Texas Pioneer Window B W
by Connie Fox
Title
Texas Pioneer Window B W
Artist
Connie Fox
Medium
Photograph - Outdoor Bw Photo
Description
Exterior view of a Texas pioneer dogtrot house window, with its latch and hinges. Wood has been enhanced with a black-and-white low-key effect to call attention to the rustic construction of this home, built in the early 1800s when Texas was a republic. Because of that status, to this day the state flag of Texas is allowed to fly at the same height as Old Glory. As far as I know, we are the only state among 50 to do so.
This pioneer house is located in historic San Felipe de Austin, known as the Colonial Capital of Texas (1823 to 1836), about an hour west of Houston on the way to San Antonio. It was in this settlement that Stephen F. Austin spent all but the last few months of his life.
This section has been covered all these years by a porch that extends the length of the house. An identical full-length porch is found on the opposite side. Also available in a color digitized version to bring out the grain and color of the wood, ranging from orange to purple.
The dogtrot, also known as a breezeway house, dog-run, or possum-trot, is a style of house common throughout the Southeastern United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is thought to have originated in Appalachia. A dogtrot house historically consisted of two log cabins connected by a breezeway, or dogtrot, all under a common roof. Typically one cabin was used for cooking and dining while the other was used as a private living space, such as a bedroom.
A dogtrot house typically has one or one-and-a-half stories, and at least two rooms averaging between 18 to 20 feet (5.5 to 6.1 m) wide that each flank an open-ended central hall. Additional rooms usually take the form of a semi-detached ell or shed rooms, flanking the hall to the front or rear.
The breezeway through the center of the house is a unique feature, with rooms of the house opening to the breezeway. The breezeway provided a cooler covered area for sitting. The combination of the breezeway and open windows in the rooms of the house created air currents which pulled cooler outside air into the living quarters efficiently in the days when there was no air-conditioning.
Copyright 2013 Connie Steitz Fox
All Rights Reserved
Nikon D80
Featured on the homepage of Beauty, December 2013; Seen But Not Noticed, Just Perfect, and Vertical Images, April-May 2022.
Uploaded
December 3rd, 2013
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