Typical Family Scene
Families of Natchez Trace State Park

from the collection of Hurchel Cary

This photograph is from Hurchel Cary. He cannot identify the family but is sure it is some of his relatives. What is important is that this is a typical scene of life in the area before the park was established. Shown is a double pen dogtrot style house constructed of log, the earliest house style common in the area. This particular house has had an addition in the rear on one side making an L-shaped house, and a rear porch makes a right angle to continue the line of the dogtrot along the left side of the addition. These dogtrots and porches were major living and work areas for families. It is a place for children to play and pets to sleep. A woman might sit on the porch as she mended clothes or shelled peas. On days too wet to work in the fields, older boys and men might sit on the porch or in the dogtrot as they sharpened tools or repaired tack. It is a dry place where family members could remove dirty shoes before entering the indoor areas. Finally, if anyone had free time, it is a place to sit and watch the world pass by.

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