Why do they call it a saltbox house?
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 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 style is a saltbox home?
traditional New England style
A saltbox house is a gable-roofed residential structure that is typically two stories in the front and one in the rear. It is a traditional New England style of home, originally timber framed, which takes its name from its resemblance to a wooden lidded box in which salt was once kept.
Where are saltbox houses most popular?
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 soap 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.
What were salt boxes used for?
By the 1800s, the practical colonial housewife suspended a patterned and decorated covered salt box on the wall to contain enough crystals for preserving meat or as a granular extinguisher for dousing a kitchen fire. The salt box was a symbol of hospitality in Britain, Germany and Ireland.
Are salt boxes sanitary?
The best container for your salt is a raw container. So a salt pig made of ceramic or porcelain is the best option for storing salt at your kitchen counter. Ceramic and porcelain salt cellars can keep your salt dry and in perfect sanitary conditions.
Where are saltbox roofs used?
Saltbox roofs work well in northern climates with mild to heavy snow and rainfall. Since they have no flat parts, they prevent snow from settling on the roof. They can endure strong winds more than gable homes.
What is Florida style?
Tropical decor, coastal chic, or Key West style: Florida-style furniture by any other name would still evoke the casual living and beach-side feel inspired by the Sunshine State. Done right, this style will give you a feeling of casual, breezy seaside living without overdoing it with beach-y paraphernalia.
What is the best material for a salt box?
Stainless steel and glass are both commonly used materials, but they each have their benefits. Stainless steel is durable and easy to clean. Glass is fragile but can be easily decorated with etching or engraving. Some salt cellars are even made of bamboo.
What kind of salt do you put in a salt box?
As for what salt you should be stocking your salt cellar with, we strongly recommend coarse salt, whether it’s kosher or sea. Fine granules are tricky to grasp and likely stick to your fingers or make a mess.
When was the colonial salt box popular?
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.
What was a salt box used for?
What is a salt house used for?
About the Salt House This structure provided secure storage for the large quantities of salt that George Washington seasonally imported from England, Portugal, and the Caribbean. Fresh meat and fish were packed in dry salt or brine for preservation.