What is an oral history? Will Centreville Settlement help me with or fund repairs to any buildings for me?
What is a housebarn? Housebarns are of ancient heritage…the animals and humans living side by side. They are very common throughout Germany and central Europe. There are several variations. The most traditional form is the L shape, which is a two or three storied structure with the humans in one end of the L and the animals in the other. The Lutze Housebarn is a long straight three storied structure with the animals on the west end and the people on the east. The larger animals (horses, oxen, cows and maybe hogs) were housed on the first floor. The heat they generate rises and warms the second floor for the smaller animals such as chickens, geese and sheep. In the family residence, the kitchen is located on the first floor. The cooking stove generated much of the heat and special heat pipes transmitted the heat to the other rooms on the first & second floor. The third story was for hay and straw storage which acted as insulation. It was also traditional in Europe to have a courtyard.
