Rural Connections
Hubka; Univ. Press of New England; Hanover, N.H.; 1984;
223 pages; $19.95 paperback, $35.00 hardcover.
Big House, Little House, Back House, Barn: The
Connected Farm Buildings of New England by Thomas C.
"Big house, little house, back
house, barn"— the phrase comes
from a 19th century children's song
and it aptly describes most of the
New England farmhouses of that
time. The "big house" refers to the
house proper, usually in the Cape
Cod or Greek Revival style. The
"little house" was a kitchen ell added
to the big house. The "back house"
denotes the woodshed, privy, and
other support spaces placed next to
the kitchen. The "barn," of course,
was the barn.
This month's focal point