To my knowledge, the only original detached kitchen still on the island is at Cousin Blanche's house. Actually, the porch has been extended to connect the two structures, and the old kitchen is now a storage area, but it still looks basically the way it did many years ago. Here are three photos I took earlier this month:
Blanche told me she remembers when some islanders constructed outdoor temporary summer kitchens from saplings and tree branches. They would be used for just one season, then dismantled. But they served to keep the intense heat from the wood cook stove out of the main house.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Part II of Crystal Canterbury's account of her first visit to Portsmouth Island. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news052115.htm.
Actually Capt. Jette's Carr house she built and now belongs to Sue and David or Roxy's has a separate kitchen. Jette was a terrific cook, but didn't like to smell food after she ate, so she designed and built her house the old fashion way. She also had lower AC bills!
ReplyDeleteThe former JoKo house, now Books to Be Red had separate kitchen when I rented it in mid 70's. A breeze way separated the kitchen from rest of house. Loved it.
Think some of the old wisdom is still rather wise.