1830 Farm Laborer's House Plans

Below are some illustrations for the construction of the laborers homes for farmlands. These are English in design but they will give you a good sense of what was in them.

The Labourer's Cottage cannot be too simple in its form, and it should be comprised in a very small compass. His wants are few, but his comforts should be carefully studied. The relative situation of doors and chimneys is of the greatest consequence to him, and it too frequently happens that this is little attended to, if at all. In rooms of very small dimensions this consideration must never be lost sight of, or the poor man's dwelling may be rendered a wretched habitation. In the Plan No. I. it will appear that the Bed Room, being within the Kitchen, must be warm, the Kitchen itself is defended by the Porch, while the Outhouse or Washhouse, containing the oven and copper, is quite independent of the other two apartments. The dwelling is only one story in height, and the rooms are kept to the smallest possible size.

For a Labourer's Cottage one story in height, explaining a design, comprehending the same number of apartments as No. I, under a different arrangement. These Cottages may be built of brick, and covered with tile, the whole being splashed, to produce the effect of age. In stone countries the roofs should be covered with rag. All the wood work should be painted in imitation of oak.

This Design presents a Labourer's Cottage in the Italian style. It is very small, comprehending only a Kitchen, Bed Room, and Outhouse, with an oven. The walls may be of brick or stone, and covered with tile, of the form so much seen in Italy, derived originally from the Greek. The windows are kept high from the ground, a peculiarity much to be observed in this character; and the simplicity of the whole effect is not unpleasing, as exhibited in the Perspective View.

Ambulance Tidbits

Below is a report from a Harford, CT. Report based on 1899. I find these tidbits helpful in a couple of ways. One, is the mileage the ambulance travels, the amount of calls it went out on in one year and the costs. Anyway, see what you might use to spark research for your own writing.

HARTFORD, Conn., March 5, 1900. To the Honorable Court of Common Council:
The Board of Police Commissioners of the City of Hartford would respectfully call your attention to the disadvantages under which they are operating the ambulance service, and to the great burden, and to the obstruction of other work in the department such as a Police department is ordinarily organized for.
To make it more evident to you what amount of service is performed for ambulance calls alone, we have requested the Chief of Police to tabulate the number of box calls, telephone calls, and ambulance calls; also the number of miles traveled by the patrol wagon, number of miles by the Black Maria, and the number of miles by the ambulance. All of these are for the past two years, each tabulated separately. Such information is submitted herewith.

In the year ending March 31, 1899, the number of ambulance calls were 561, and the miles traveled by the ambulance were 1683, as against 1799 patrol wagon calls and 1148 miles traveled by patrol wagon.
The appropriations for Ambulance service, during the past year was $1500.

In order to eflect this service properly, the drivers of the department are obliged not only to be subject to the calls for the patrol wagon, but also for service on the Black Maria, and to be subject to immediate call for ambulance service. We have, as you are aware, only two drivers, one for day duty and one for night duty.' During the past year, these two drivers have been obliged to respond to a total of 2468 calls, of which 544 were for ambulance service, or twenty per cent. of the total number of calls.

In order to effect this service, we have been obliged to traverse 4671 miles, of which 1635 were by the ambulance, or more than thirty per cent; and the number of miles traversed for ambulance service were 1635 as against 1192 for patrol wagon service. And to efl'ect this service we have only two pairs of horses.

In responding to ambulance calls we use only one 'horse, which is obliged to draw a heavy ambulance and in addition to the service on the patrol wagon and Black Maria, with the pair. This service wears out the horses exceedingly fast, and prevents them from being in good condition to make swift trips with the patrol wagon, which is very desirable. We would ask your comparison of this work, by two pairs of horses. both as to number of miles and number of calls, with any two pairs of horses now in use by the Fire Department. One pair of horses is in such condition now that they will not be adequate for our service for more than a month or so longer, at the utmost.

The annual allowance given to us is 81500. As against this, we would call your attention to the fact that we are constantly employing two men at a salary of $1001). each to maintain this service. Our repairs, and the services of ambulance surgeons, amount to 8252. Also, should be taken into consideration : wear and tear of horses; horse shoeing made necessary by this extra service; fodder; straw; harness and frequent renewals thereof, blankets and their cleaning and renewals; and many other items which, though they enter into our expenses as a department, are not adequately provided for in the appropriation.

In additiOn to this, the drivers are practically obliged to take care of their own horses; and immediately on return from a call, and before the horses are put into condition, they are almost inevitably called out again for other services.

In no other city, as far as we can discover, is the ambulance maintained by the Police Department. It is always a subject of care by the hospitals, by whom it is maintained either by voluntary contributions or by an appropriation from the municipal government, or, in a few cases, maintained by the Charities Departments.

We have conferred with the authorities at the Hartford Hospital, and they seem willing to assume (although they have not positively stated that they will do so) the care and maintenance of the ambulance, provided a reasonable appropriation is made for the same by the City government. But they state that such service cannot be maintained for less than 82500. a year. '

The feed bills, harness bills, horse shoeing bills, and other bills for repairs, have been largely increased by services rendered in the ambulance department; and we have found it very difficult to keep wllhin our appropriation, and especially this year when we were obliged to make many additional improvements in the Police Station, taken out of our regular appropriation for police service.

We respectfully represent that this service is: First, unusual. Second, that it is very onerous and burdensome. Third, that it over-works the drivers. Fourth, that it over-works the horses. Fifth, that it incurs an expense which cannot be made apparent to the Ways and Means committee in making their estimates for our general appropriation.

The calls made by this service are from the hospitals, from the railroads, from individuals, and from calls by the police themselves. In fact the ambulance seems to be subject tO‘the service of everyone who may choose to call upon it.

Our force is at present not adequate to cover the territory which we are obliged to patrol. It leaves us with only one officer in the station besides the Chief and a driver.
The oflice man is frequently called away on this ambulance duty, and when the driver is out with the patrol wagon it leaves the station in charge of the Chief without a single extra man, who is subject to outside calls in cases of emergency.

We, therefore, respectfully request that you consider our petition to withdraw from us the ambulance service, and place it in charge of either the Hartford Hospital or the Charities Department. It is understood, however, that if the Hartford Hospital assumes this service that they are willing to answer allc alls from St. Francis’ Hospital, from the Charities Department, from the Alms House, and for any general service, and also furnish the ambulance surgeons. .
Respectfully submitted,

1839 Furnishings Part 3

Wash Stands for japanned work.

Teapoys.
Varying considerably from the design in plate 3, particularly in the forms of the blocks; the supports of the lower two are of very plain turned work, intended for French polish.

A Toilet
Table And Glass.—Stuffing is introduced upon the stretcher rail, as a rest for the feet; and a draw is at each end instead of the usual one in front, as being more convenient for the person while sitting at the table.

Ladies' Work Tables,
The first has a draw in front and a pouch formed by ribs of thick wire, which falls, and forms an opening, by disengaging the snap beneath the centre of the draw.

1882 Historical Fashions

Ladies

Walking Jacket

Visiting Dress

Walking Dresses

Ladies Dresses

Evening Dress Winter Bonnet

Dinner or Evening Dress

House Dress

Children

Beef

Below are some recipes from 1881 in preparing Beef.

Beefsteak.—There is no meat which can be eaten day after day and meal after meal with the satisfaction which a tender, juicy, well-cooked beefsteak gives. The ideal steak is a fat sirloin or porter-house, not because the fat itself is particularly good to eat, but the lean which comes with the fat is better in quality. The best meat is the cheapest in the end, as then every little bit can be disposed of in some way. I do not have much faith in the rules given for choosing meat; they depend upon too many contingencies, and so hesitate to give any. I think there is only one way to cook a steak, and that is upon a gridiron over a bed of coals; butter, pepper, and salt to be added the moment it is taken off on the warm platter. Some cooks are quite successful in cooking steak on a hot meat-griddle, having it smoking hot when the meat is put on.
Pieces of nice steak that are left from one or two meals can be made into an inviting dish for breakfast by chopping them fine, taking care that no grizzle or bits of bone are left in; season with pepper and salt, and heat with a very little water and a lump of butter.

Roast Beef.—Every woman who has kept house a few years has a theory of her own as to how beef should be roasted; one says that it should be put into the oven without a drop of water in the pan; another that it should be rolled in flour, a little lemon-juice squeezed on it, and so on indefinitely, each one thinking her way is the best; as for me, I am sure that my ways are best, for I have two of them. If the beef is fat, and seems juicy, I put it into the oven with just about a tablespoonful of water, and roast, allowing an hour and a half for five pounds of beef. If the meat is lean and dry, and gives an impression that it is tough, especially if my butcher has been betrayed into confessing that it is not very tender, then I put it in the dripping-pan on the top of the stove with half a pint of water, turn a pan over it, and let it steam for half an hour, then put in the oven. I have in this way served what appeared to the unsuspicious family as a delicious roast, but which I knew to be a very tough, unpromising piece of meat. So unorthodox is this way of roasting beef that I almost fear to make it known.

Beef Omelet.—This is good for breakfast or tea. Take one pound of chopped beef, two well-beaten eggs, three soda-crackers rolled fine, three or four tablespoonfuls of milk or cream; season to your taste with pepper, salt, and sage. Make this in a roll, cover it loosely with a well-buttered cloth, and bake half an hour in a basin, with a little water in it. When cold cut it in thin slices.

Baked Beef.— Take a piece of round steak, stuff it with force meat the same as for chicken or turkey, sew it together, and bake, basting it frequently with a little melted butter and warm water. A tough piece of meat may be disposed of in this way which otherwise would, perhaps, be thrown away.

1835 House Plans Part 2

This continues the series of 1835 House plans originally published in 1835 in London.

Country House
This house consists of two floors. On the ground are the parlour and drawing-room, at the back of which is the kitchen, above are three bed-rooms. The external appearance of the building is neat and simple; and it would form a pleasant occasional retreat to a gentleman engaged in business.

Design for a Double House.
The entrance to each dwelling is on the side. The plan is so divided that each has a good room in the centre of its front . The parlours and drawing-room may be thrown together by folding doors. The kitchen, wash-house, &c, are below stairs. Each house has three bed-rooms, on the one-pair floor. In the external appearance these two dwellings form one uniform building.

Design for a Villa.
Simplicity is the character of this design. A portico of Greek Doric columns occupies the centre of the elevation; on each side of which is a window down to the ground. This building is proposed rather as an occasional than a constant residence. The plan, however, affords sufficient accommodations for a small family desirous of enjoying in seclusion the pleasures of rural retirement.

Another Design for a Villa.
In this design the offices are in the basement. The sitting-rooms on the ground-floor, and the bed-rooms on the one-pair. Considering the dimensions of the house, the accommodations are numerous, and particularly suitable to a moderate-sized family. In the front of the house, between the projecting wings, is a Doric portico; over it is a balcony, to which a handsome veranda would be no inconsiderable improvement.

Early 19th Century Occupations

Below is a list I comprised of early occupations from town reports. It is not a complete list because it is based on two different towns in Connecticut but it does help the writer to think of other possible occupations for their hero or heroines.

Attorney
Merchant
Physician
Blacksmith
Tavern Keeper
Shoemaker
Joiners (Construction Worker, making doors, windows, cabinets, etc.)
Saddler
Silversmith
Miller
Hatter
Wheelwright (wooden wheel maker)
Grist Miller
Masons
Cooper
Tailor

1839 Furnishings Part 2

Sofas.
The principal ornamental parts are intended to be carved in relief only, and the leaves in the front rail of the first design are produced by being first ploughed like a moulding and then cut into form.

Sofa Ends

Couches.—The very plain parts, which frequently occur in the turned work, (and here are seen in the legs of the first Couch) are intended to shew the beauty of the French polish; and when a hanging husk appears as from the scroll, it should be in slight relief only.

Couch Ends

Couches.
The rosettes introduced here and in many of the other plates, it should be remembered, are intended to be turned by the lathe into the form, and then finished by being channeled into leaves, as a saving in the expence of carving.

Sofas.
The carved work of these should be neatly executed and of very delicate projection, otherwise a vulgarity in appearance would be the consequence.