The Sleeping Porch

Tweet

Ah, yes the sleeping porch..... Although most homes in the south were designed to be self-cooling in the early part of the 20th century due to the brutal heat, there was a new idea gaining ground in home construction. It was the sleeping porch, a comfortable escape from the stifling indoor air during the pre-airconditioned days of the early 1900's. Tuberculosis was the number one cause of death during this time and fresh air was found to be the best treatment. This gave rise to the sleeping porches with as many designs as there were home types during that time period. This was not for public or social gatherings but a secluded screened in private area only for family. It often took several hours for the house to cool down after a hot day and this gave people a refreshing option to the hot bedrooms of that time before ceiling fans and central air. These rooms are no longer seen in most homes, having been closed in and added to the square footage of the home.