Tuesday, July 30, 2013

What Are These?

I wonder how many of you know what these pictures are of?

Aren't they fascinating?
 
There are two of them at the edge of the yard. One is still covered with moss and little tree sprouts. The second one, the new owner has already started cleaning off the mossy bricks. He is using them for storage sheds. That is why I did not take an 'inside' photo of each cellar.

Don't you just love the curved roof. Amazing!

The group sitting on the big screened-in porch at a friend's house had a lot of guesses bouncing around and no one knew for sure when they were built or why. One of the men was thinking maybe in the '20s but that is a wild guess.

They are root cellars! Big ones at that. So, (and this is an assumption) that once, long ago, the land where the current house is sitting was a large commercial farm. Perhaps all the produce was stored in these large root cellars and then hauled a few feet down to be loaded onto boats on the Elizabeth River headed for market.


I just love old things, things that make me wonder and learn and wish that I could travel back to those good times.... just for a day. 

I am linking up to ABCWednesday. This week the letter is 'C' ... hence my Cellar entry. It's a fun meme. You should check it out.

and Outdoor Wednesday. That's another fine meme.
                                                                                        Keep rowing down the river of life,
                                                                                                  

19 comments:

  1. I've heard of root cellars but I've never seen one. Those are great!

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  2. i love those! i wish i had one in my yard!

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  3. Those are incredible structures with the rounded brick roofs. Neat, too.

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  4. The old home place where I grew up had an old root cellar. It was similar to these, but covered with soil and there were steps leading down into the ground. I remember it being very cool down there! Your photos show much neater looking structures! Love them.

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  5. Back in Ohio root cellars were common on farms and homesteads before refrigeration....usually sunk into the ground or into a hillside. I love these you've pictured...thye are remarkably formed. Imagine the water-table wouldn't have allowed them to be sunk into the ground very far around here, and the bricks provided shelter from the sun and rains. Clever.

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  6. Root cellars are common here in the country with old homes. But, I have never seen one with this design. Pretty cool!

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  7. Fascinating.
    I really like the Curved brick Cellars. I wonder what their history is too.

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  8. HA! I thought it was a COVERED bridge!
    ROG, ABC Wednesday team

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  9. Great post - really interesting!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie

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  10. Fabulous C entry, Mom! I love the cellar, and sure would love to live where I had access to such interesting, useful and lovely structures! Wow! I just entered my "C" a few minutes ago as well. Hope I have an email...will be checking in a bit. Have a great week!

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  11. I thought at first it was an old Roman bridge structure. What a surprise! Nicely done,

    Leslie
    abcw team

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  12. Fascinating. I think we could still use one of those.

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  13. I also love old things. Thanks for sharing!
    Wil, ABCW Team

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  14. I love anything made from brick and this is very neat. The structure has held nicely through the years. Glad you joined ABC Wednesday.
    Ann

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  15. Curious cryptic cellars and the mystery deepens!!


    My Post Is Here

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  16. There was a root cellar in our back yard when I was a child. It was a good place to store things, but we kids were afraid to go into it. I'd have been even more afraid of one that looks like this, but my brother and his friends might have been intrigued by it.
    Such an interesting post!
    K

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  17. How interesting. I love these photos. Have a good evening. Mildred

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