Architectural Corner: Saltbox

Originating in Colonial New England during the 17th & 18th centuries , Saltbox homes were named after (surprise!) salt storage boxes from the era.

Typical of houses of that period, they were wood framed, using post-and-beam construction – cleverly joining timber pieces with joints, pegs and interlocked beams rather than nails, which were a rarity in Colonial America.

What separated Saltbox homes from other colonial homes were the so-called catslide rooflines, the result of adding sheds to the back of the house to increase square space and functionality, resulting in the front of the house being two stories and the back being one. It was a clever, economical way to add space.