Chapter 6 The Evolution of Exteriors
171
• Saltbox. Another type home built
by the English settlers in the New
England area was the Saltbox house.
The
Saltbox
is a variation of the Cape
Cod, 6-4B. The earliest saltbox houses
were created when a lean-to addition
was built on the rear of the house.
The Saltbox house takes its name
from the shape of the wooden box in
which salt was kept at that time.
In saltbox construction, the house
has two or two-and-one-half stories
in the front but just one story in the
back. It is characterized by a long,
steep-pitched gable roof that slopes
down from the front to the back.
Other typical features are large
windows with small panes of glass,
and a large central chimney.
A—Cape Cod B—Saltbox
C—Garrison
6-4
(A) The Cape Cod is a one-and-a-half-story house with a gable roof and central entrance. (B) A saltbox house
has narrow wood siding and windows without shutters. (C) This Garrison style house, which was originally owned
by Paul Revere, features an overhanging second story.
(C) Massachusetts Offi ce of Travel & Tourism