Ethel Peterson is joined by 2 additional children on the
porch. The presence of bedding (a mat and pillow) on the porch
intrigues me. Was this a regular sleeping arrangement in the heat of the
summer? or just the temporary bed for a nap or visiting children?
Identifiers:
Negative #: paulson154.jpg
“The world’s a big place” series: 2
Place: Olivia area (Calhoun County) Texas
Date: 1908
Ethel Christina Peterson (21 Feb 1907 – 3 May
1988)
Yes -- in the past, houses were often building with sleeping porches (often screened in, if the owners could afford it) at the back of the house. Not only was it cooler during the warmer months, but sleeping in the fresh air was touted early in the 20th century as a healthy way to prevent disease such as tuberculosis. In this case, it might have just been a regular porch, but the sleeping arrangement was common.
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