Moore Potato House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Moore Potato House
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 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southeast of junction of Roads 72 and 463, near Laurel, Delaware |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | c. 1920 |
| MPS | Sweet Potato Houses of Sussex County MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001696 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1990 |
The Moore Potato House is a special old building located near Laurel, Delaware in Sussex County, Delaware. It was built around 1920. This building is important because it is one of the very few potato houses still standing today.
Contents
What is a Potato House?
A potato house was a type of building used by farmers a long time ago. Its main job was to store potatoes after they were harvested. Farmers needed a safe place to keep their potatoes fresh. This was important before potatoes were shipped to markets.
These buildings helped keep potatoes from freezing in winter. They also stopped them from spoiling in warmer weather. Potato houses were like big, natural refrigerators or warm storage rooms. They were designed to control the temperature and humidity inside. This helped the potatoes last longer.
How Potato Houses Worked
Potato houses had special features to protect the crops. They often had thick walls and good insulation. This helped keep the inside temperature steady. Many also had special ventilation systems. These systems allowed air to flow through the building. This prevented moisture buildup and kept the potatoes healthy.
Farmers would carefully stack their potatoes inside. They would often use slatted floors. These floors allowed air to circulate all around the potatoes. This design was very clever for its time.
The Moore Potato House: A Unique Design
The Moore Potato House is a great example of these old farm buildings. It is a one-and-a-half-story building. It has a pointed roof at the front, called a gable front. The building is made with a "balloon frame" structure. This means its wooden frame uses long, continuous studs from the bottom to the roof.
The building measures about 16 feet 6 inches wide. It is also about 20 feet 4 inches long. These are not very big dimensions. But the design was perfect for storing potatoes.
Special Features of This House
The Moore Potato House still has many original features. These features show how potato houses were built.
- Tall and narrow shape: This design helped with air circulation.
- Triple siding: This means it has three layers of outside walls. This helped with insulation. It kept the inside temperature more stable.
- Few windows: There are not many windows. The windows it does have are small. They also have tightly fitting hatches. This helped keep light out and control the temperature.
- Inside ventilation: The building has special ways to let air move around. One important feature is its slatted floor. This floor has gaps. These gaps allow air to flow under and around the stored potatoes. This prevents them from rotting.
Why is it Historic?
The Moore Potato House is very important to history. It shows us how farming was done in the past. It also teaches us about the clever ways farmers stored their crops. Because it is one of the last buildings of its kind, it is very special.
In 1990, the Moore Potato House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. Being on this list helps protect the building. It makes sure future generations can learn from it.
