Abandoned Cracker House

Wolf

Old style Cracker House abandoned long ago. The old Cracker House and Shotgun style homes are full of history in Southern architecture. I just love 'em.

digismile

Wolf wrote:

Old style Cracker House abandoned long ago. The old Cracker House and Shotgun style homes are full of history in Southern architecture. I just love 'em.

Why are they called Cracker Houses?

Wolf

digismile wrote:

Why are they called Cracker Houses?

The homes themselves are of a vernacular style of architecture that permeated throughout pre air conditioned Florida. The shotgun style is also included as part of this vernacular style. The "Cracker" name is said to refer to the early Florida settlers known as "Crackers". There are a few theories as to why they were referred to as crackers. If you are interested I can add to this.

DoctorIt

Cracker houses eh? We only have crack houses up here.

You're shot is nice. I like the composition, but if I may, your BW conversion seems a little flat. I only say this cause mine usually do the same. I find I often need to kick a little harder and really get good black/white contrast rather than a lot of gray.

Wolf

Hi Erik,

Ya know, I thought the same. But it is nice to get a confirmation. Thanks dude, appreciate the comment.

DoctorIt

Whew, i'm usually weary of "constructive critiscism"... just felt strongly bout that one because I've been struggling with it myself.

digismile

For those that are interested, here is a brief link on Cracker Houses.

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/12106.shtml

Wolf

digismile wrote:

For those that are interested, here is a brief link on Cracker Houses.

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/12106.shtml

Yes, I have seen this link. Nice of you to post it. So, I suppose you are already familiar with the different "Cracker" definitions.

digismile

Wolf wrote:

Yes, I have seen this link. Nice of you to post it. So, I suppose you are already familiar with the different "Cracker" definitions.

Hardly! After reading your first response, I was still curious to find out more so did a bit more research.

I love finding out more about the pictures, ie, the story behind them. As my wife says, "who lives there and why?". Around here we tend to bulldoze old things under. It's great to see pieces of history still hanging around.

Older homes took on a new meaning last summer. My grandmother's family home was dedicated as a historical site in Lloydminster, AB. Her younger sister was the first child born to the Barr River Colonists who ultimately settled the area and became Lloydminster.

To most people it just looks like a really old house (kinda like your cracker house). But what they don't know is that it was the first house in the town to have wood floors. It was also the first post office and home of the stationmaster for the railroad.

So when I see a picture of an old house, I wonder "who lived there and why?"

Thanks for the little piece of history.

Brad

wxwax

digismile wrote:

For those that are interested, here is a brief link on Cracker Houses.

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/stories/Detailed/12106.shtml

Nice link, thanks.