tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post9159072367448258670..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the WaterUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-49714559233931608852010-08-27T12:55:22.879-05:002010-08-27T12:55:22.879-05:00The Colonial Williamsburg podcast refutes the clos...The Colonial Williamsburg podcast refutes the closets myth, as I recall.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-26116645207462868032010-08-27T11:22:45.679-05:002010-08-27T11:22:45.679-05:00Thanks for this. Now can we please skewer the old ...Thanks for this. Now can we <i>please</i> skewer the old saw that old houses don't have closets because they were taxed on them as "rooms?"Andy Hallhttp://deadconfederates.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-36491753952933782302010-08-26T11:39:19.592-05:002010-08-26T11:39:19.592-05:00According to this article from Monticello, Jeffers...According to this <a href="http://www.monticello.org/house/bedroom.html" rel="nofollow">article from Monticello</a>, Jefferson’s bed “appears small but is 6' 3" in length,” or the standard size for a modern double mattress. Being tucked into an alcove in a big room naturally makes it look smaller.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-87206843521377958602010-08-26T01:49:14.688-05:002010-08-26T01:49:14.688-05:00Thomas Jefferson's bed at Monticello was indee...Thomas Jefferson's bed at Monticello was indeed shorter than today's typical bed. The tour guide stated that it was in vogue at the time because people thought it was healthier...sort of like keeping the window open while you slept.<br /><br />I would imagine that many aristocrats with their fancy food might have suffered from what we now know as "acid-reflux"Timoteonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-60494917087732069132010-08-21T22:53:46.335-05:002010-08-21T22:53:46.335-05:00Took the kids to Hearst Castle last week, and my 1...Took the kids to Hearst Castle last week, and my 11-yo son asked exactly this question. To her credit the (excellent) guide gave the same answer you have here. <br /><br />She also noted that while mattresses are about the same size in 18th c and modern beds, the bed *frames* are often now a few inches longer, to accommodate our taste for ridiculously giant comforters and piles of pillows.Bella Fnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-61731111058665649672010-08-21T18:11:30.474-05:002010-08-21T18:11:30.474-05:00Historical myths debunked--I appreciate that a lot...Historical myths debunked--I appreciate that a lot because of my time at Plimoth Plantation. Myths of all kinds were part of the job, including this one about the bed.pilgrimchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13808106043964544413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-44248379397682715602010-08-21T12:23:34.557-05:002010-08-21T12:23:34.557-05:00But- but...JL- what will sleeptalking tour guides ...But- but...JL- what will sleeptalking tour guides and historical society grande dames do when they are confronted with the fact that people weren't actually shorter back then, people didn't live close to the ocean, and that "sleep tight" doesn't come into the English language until around 1920? ....;)RFullernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-36589156776015845912010-08-20T21:53:12.079-05:002010-08-20T21:53:12.079-05:00Height also depended on where the colonials lived....Height also depended on where the colonials lived. Men of New England tended to be a little shorter than Pennsylvania Riflemen and also Virginians. It did have a lot to do with diet and also climate. But this was not always the case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-4393152439819001762010-08-20T13:48:16.673-05:002010-08-20T13:48:16.673-05:00In fact all the furniture from 17th and 18th c.whi...In fact all the furniture from 17th and 18th c.which survives today is virtually the same measurements as modern articles.Chairs,tables,chests,etc. are not miniaturized at all,but the same height as today.I have owned quite a bit of 18th c. furniture and it has all been full sized.There are surviving examples of children's or youth's chairs,etc.but the typical chair is still the same.Often chairs and tables have worn down over the years from use,but they were indeed made full size.<br />Many folks are larger today because of a more protein-rich diet but many colonials were large also like Washington and Franklin for example.Pvt.Willynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-78351591254088735842010-08-20T12:58:11.397-05:002010-08-20T12:58:11.397-05:00Hi there -- This is just a typo alert. I think it ...Hi there -- This is just a typo alert. I think it should read "beds" (not "bed"), and perhaps "not that much shorter" (not "not that shorter"). But perhaps the latter is dialect . . .Chauceriannoreply@blogger.com