Figure 1.--This American family snapshot is undated, but we would guess was taken about 1910. Mother has dressed the kids up in their best summer outfits, including white long stockings and strap shoes, nd very lovingly did their hair. Father has posed them pn the front step. It is very roughly contructed and does not appear to be covered. Notice how big brother is trying to comfot his little brother who seems concerned with the camera. Little sustery has aspray of flowers. The children look to be about 1-5 years old. A reader writes, "If you notice the younger boy wears what appears to be a slip under his tunic styled dress. The embroidery or ruffle at the hem is just visible from beneath the hem of the tunic. Also the older boy's garters are visible from beneath his short trousers." Click on the image for a fuller discussion of the clothing.

Social class factors to a defree affected whether a family had a porch. Virtually aff middle-class families that live in leafy areas with lawns had porches. This was not the case in inner city areas, even for expensive homes like brown stones. Here their might be back porches. The price of realestate was a factor, bur so was interpersonl intereaction. Inner city residents were less iterested in such intractions. People living in small towns and suburbs were. (Here by suburbs we mean city suburbs, not the fringe suburbs that developed after World War II. Poorer people were less likely to have a covered porch, although even the roughest shacks often had a front step similar to a porch, but commonly without a covering. We think that here cost was the major factor, but we are not entirely sure.

Created: 10:22 PM 1/21/2009
Last updated: 1:38 AM 1/23/2009