Keeping Cool

Our “curator cat” Frankie is here, and recent storms have him exhausted:

Summer’s end can be mean wild weather! Fortunately, here at the Harrison House, Frankie has a number of architectural conveniences.

We’ve talked in the past about how historic houses controlled temperature using airflow. But there are even more tricks that the builders of the Harrison House used to make sure that the home would be comfortable and cool!

One is that nice hardwood floor Frankie is lounging on. In the 1800s, wood floors were simple to keep clean and more readily available than carpets or rugs might be. As an added benefit, they remain a little cooler than textiles would! (Of course, in the winter, that can be a problem—but we aren’t there yet.) The plaster walls of the Harrison House also help maintain a steady temperature by creating an extra barrier against the heat outside. And narrow windows let in light while also being easy to cover with curtains, blocking out the sun’s rays at the hottest times of day.

The great thing about all this is that Frankie can rest easy. Perhaps the Harrisons did, too!