When were saltbox houses first built?

A classic staple of New England architecture, Saltbox-style houses first appeared in the United States around 1650, making them among the oldest examples of American Colonial-style architecture. They remained a popular choice in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Where did saltbox homes originate?

New England
The saltbox originated in New England and is an example of American colonial architecture. Its shape evolved organically as an economical way to enlarge a house by adding a shed to a home’s rear.

Why are they called saltbox houses?

Originally named for the wooden salt containers commonplace in the era, saltbox houses are typically built from wood and easily spotted by their long, slanted rear roof. The style was first formed by homeowners wanting to add an addition to existing homes with a lean-to from the rear and refinishing the roof.

What are the distinctive features of a saltbox house?

Saltboxes are frame houses with two stories in front and one in back, having a pitched roof with unequal sides, being short and high in front and long and low in back. The front of the house is flat and the rear roof line is steeply sloped. The sturdy central chimney is a simple but effective focal point.

What is a salt box house design?

A saltbox home (which takes its name from the resemblance to a wooden lidded box in which salt was once kept) is identified by its asymmetrically long, rear roof line. The pitched roof that slopes down to the first floor was first created to cover a lean-to addition at the rear of the original house.

What is a salt box house Newfoundland?

Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador/Facebook) Biscuit box houses came later. Named after the rectangular boxes used to ship hard biscuits, they are two-storey houses with gentle sloped roofs. The name saltbox may be commonly used, but finding an actual saltbox home is becoming more rare.

What is a salt box colonial?

What is a salt box garage?

Floor Plans The Salt Box is a structure with a loft or a second story on the front portion of the building, and a single story toward the rear. The Salt Box was created to avoid Queen Anne’s taxation of the two-story house in England’ newest Colony.

Where are saltbox houses most common?

Saltbox houses are most commonly found throughout New England, with the highest density being in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Additional examples can be found as far north as Labrador and Newfoundland in Canada.

What is a cracker box house?

In its simplest form, a Cracker house is a wooden shelter built by the early Florida and Georgia settlers. Lured to Florida by cheap and plentiful land, these pioneers arrived with few provisions and needed to erect shelter quickly and cheaply.

Why are there no brick houses in Newfoundland?

Building a stone or brick house required a great deal of time and money, neither of which was available to most settlers. To build a stone or brick house required special skills and many months of dry warm weather which Newfoundland does not always enjoy.

What is a biscuit box house?

Biscuit box houses came later. Named after the rectangular boxes used to ship hard biscuits, they are two-storey houses with gentle sloped roofs. The name saltbox may be commonly used, but finding an actual saltbox home is becoming more rare.

Categories: Common