Back Porch...

There are so many stories that we will never know but learning about the way of life at Oak Alley stirs our interest and imagination. During our tour, we learned there were methods for dealing with insects that made their way in through the night, such as mosquito netting, and fly traps. The fly traps were glass containers, that allowed the flies to enter from the bottom of the jar, enticed by sugar water and a little poison. The flies ultimately were trapped in the jar. Since this was unsightly, a napkin was place over the top of the fly trap. Also, a large scrolled panel above the dining table could be operated by a slave in order to fan the diners. A rope attached to the panel extended from the fan to the corner of the room where the slave would pull and release the fan. We also learned that when the young male suitors would call on the daughters of the plantation owner, a special candle holder was used...one that could be used to adjust the height of the candle either allowing for more courting time or less, depending on how "suitable" the prospect was. Wish we'd used that method when I was younger...it's much more subtle than turning the porch light off and on! Posted by Valerie