This was not some grand invention or showpiece. But it’s just a smart, pragmatic way to run a household. It shows the kind of inventiveness people were exercising.” They improvised with what they had — no frills, just function.
Now, even walking through the entryway feels different. And I know there’s something under my feet that once made a family live just a little easier, even without the conveniences we take for granted today.
Lessons From Under the Floor
That 19th-century water cistern wasn’t merely a relic. It was a component of a working, efficient, sustainable and simple system. And it still has a story to tell, although not many people, I imagine, have heard it for who knows how long.
If you are in an older house, check under the boards or behind the walls. Occasionally history doesn’t wait for a museum. Sometimes, it’s right under your feet.
