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Abstract
Most American families accommodate to changing needs in housing over the life-cycle by moving from one house to another as need, economic ability, and life-style preferences dictate. The mobility patterns of farm families are quite different; it is not uncommon for succeeding generations of a family to remain on the homestead, and to occupy the same house as their ancestors. This study describes the housing on 47 centennial farms in northeastern Kansas, and the meanings of living in a multi-generational home, as experienced by the owners. A mail survey was sent to 52 farm owners in 11 counties; 48 owners responded. Descriptive information on all the houses, both past and current, was obtained, along with owners’ expressed meanings of living in houses that have been home to the family for several generations. The findings revealed that patterns of home building and modification over time were typical of farm housing in general. Carrying on family tradition and maintaining continuity of family experience were found to be overriding benefits of “staying in place.”
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Notes on contributors
Margaret A. Boschetti
Margaret A Boshetti is an Associate Professor of Interior Design at East Carolina University.