Existing comment:
Kitchen:
This room is known as the kitchen and it functions just like our kitchens do today. However, instead of having a stove and a microwave, it has an open cooking hearth. Open cooking hearths are simply larger fireplaces where cast iron pots could be hung over or sat around an open fire.
A small bake oven is located to the right of the open cooking hearth. The bake over was used to bake the breads and many of the desserts that were prepared for the "Big House." All cooking in the 1800s was done in open cooking hearths.
The cook's day would start before sunrise and would not end, until well after sunset. She was responsible for all the meals throughout the day and she was expected to keep a clean and tidy kitchen. This was no easy task, especially, since the kitchen temperatures could easily soar over 100 degrees during the summer months.
The entire kitchen building has been rebuilt on the original brick foundation and around the original hearth and chimney. Today, the kitchen is still in use by the staff to present living history demonstrations to the public. |