First Kisses and Front Porches

June 17, 2013 by dorannrule

Every now and then I treat myself to a “camera walk” in the small college town of Lexington, Virginia just down the road from home.

If I were writing a travelogue it would feature the area’s theater, art, and history, the Stonewall Jackson House, the George C. Marshall museum, the tomb of Robert E. Lee, the Natural Bridge, Hull’s Drive-In Movie, outdoor opportunities, and so many other attractions. But this is a roaming walker’s on-foot impressions by the side of the road.

The routine is to amble along randomly snapping pictures of anything that looks like a photo op. And sometimes when I get home and peruse the treasured results, I see surprising patterns.

This day it was porches. There are a lot of old fashioned front porches in the little town of Lexington, Virginia. And that got me thinking about how very American that is.

The back streets of my town are dotted with storybook homes. Now I ask you, “What architectural feature played a more important role in forming our unique American identity than the highly beloved front porch?”

I looked up “porches” and learned that from way back in the 1880’s they were the places to see and be seen in America, where courtships blossomed on the proverbial porch swing, and where families sat outside after dinner to escape the heat indoors and to meet and greet passersby. That is a long tradition.

Sadly, by the 1950s, when radio and television kept families inside, patios and decks were the trend. In fact, if you wanted to modernize your house, you were advised to tear down that old fashioned structure altogether!

Happily the front porch is regaining popularity today and is once again added to existing buildings and included in new house designs and plans.

We are surely longing for an idealized past – a place to leave our boots in muddy weather, to rock the baby to sleep, a place for the family to rest and relax after a fine meal and catch a summer breeze. The front porch is still for first kisses, creaky swings, iced tea and good neighbors.

I wish I had a front porch. Don’t you?

On front porches (themodernsportinglife.wordpress.com)

Posted in Camera-Walking, Country Fotos | Tagged Front porch, Photographs, Porch, Small Town America | 25 Comments

25 Responses

on June 17, 2013 at 3:50 am Dianna

Well, I’m blessed to actually have a front porch…and a swing! And the house where I grew up (and lived til I was 23) had a front porch..also with a swing. I’m told that was my favorite way to be lulled to sleep as a baby…on that front porch swing.
Love this post and your beautiful porch photos!

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:54 am Shofar

I have a very old black and white photo of sitting on the porch and my mom braiding my hair. Most of those homes with porches are gone today except for those beautiful old ones that have been preserved and registered as ‘historic homes’. They look like some of these I guess from the old English influence with large pillars and all! Nice post, Dor!
-Liz

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on June 17, 2013 at 4:22 am thehappyhugger

Those porches are just beautiful!

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on June 17, 2013 at 4:39 am cindy knoke

Love the porches~

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on June 17, 2013 at 7:54 am katecrimmins

I grew up with a front porch. We lived in one side of a twin and our neighbors were good friends. After dinner we would all sit on the porch until dark and other neighbors would join us. What a wonderful way to spend your childhood. I really miss those days. Now we don’t see neighbors who are huddling in the back.

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on June 17, 2013 at 9:52 am Kathy

I always equate big front porches with the south. Just think of all the Life that has happened on front porches around the world! Lovely post, Dor.

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on June 17, 2013 at 10:10 am photosfromtheloonybin

It’s so cool to be able to say I have seen many of those places in Lexington thanks to the greatest tour guide in the world :). As for porches, I always wanted a house with a wrap around porch. I didn’t get exactly that, but I do have a patio door that goes our from my bedroom to a deck along the back of the house and about 6 feet above the ground that overlooks a field, and it is my favourite place to be!!

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on June 17, 2013 at 11:18 am Life With The Top Down

There is nothing more inviting than a big porch.

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on June 17, 2013 at 1:08 pm apronheadlilly

I do. I love porches, and the look takes me back to my childhood when everyone had one.

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:39 pm dorannrule

I wish I had grown up with a front porch… had a back porch though in Florida and that’s where I slept. They thought the night air would help asthma.

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:40 pm dorannrule

I like the idea of a bedroom deck! You are a lucky lady. 🙂

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:41 pm dorannrule

Thanks Kathy… those porches in the south do leave you wondering about all the life events that might have happened there over time. 🙂

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:42 pm dorannrule

Oh, you were so fortunate to grow up with a front porch Kate. You will have to move to my town. Almost every house has one (and they are selling now for a song). 🙂

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:44 pm dorannrule

Thanks for your lovely comment Liz. You are a lucky lady to have grown up with a front porch. In Fla. we had what was called a “Florida room.” It was screened and in the back though – – just not the same. ~Dor

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:46 pm dorannrule

You are really the lucky lady of the day Dianna. A few blogger friends say they grew up with front porches, but you are the only one so far who actually lives with one. And you have the porch swing too! I am so envious!

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on June 17, 2013 at 3:55 pm dogear6

I think you did a great walk with the camera! Feel free to do these kinds of posts anytime you’re in the mood.

We don’t have a front porch, but people in our subdivision walk a lot. We’ve gotten to know a lot of them because we sit on the back deck and will wave and often enough, go out the gate to talk to them. We’ve gotten to know a lot of people that way.

Nancy

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on June 17, 2013 at 10:43 pm photosfromtheloonybin

Yes, I am 🙂

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on June 17, 2013 at 10:47 pm nutsfortreasure

Nice piece and walk. I have a SMALL front porch but would love a wrap around 🙂

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on June 18, 2013 at 3:54 am Jennifer S

Yes, those are some beautiful porches. And our old house once had a sleeping porch… another feature of a bygone era that now seems just too quaint and charming to be true.

Thanks for sharing the lovely photos and history. Very interesting!

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on June 18, 2013 at 8:08 am Mama's Empty Nest

So many of my very fond memories were on the porch of my childhood home. I LOVE porches and I’m happy to say I do have a front porch — not nearly as grand as these beauties you showed us here, I’d be in heaven with one like those – and my front porch swing is one of my favorite spots.

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on June 18, 2013 at 12:59 pm dorannrule

A grand porch is not necessarily the one to create fond memories like yours. I’m so glad you enjoyed this post mama! 🙂

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on June 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm dorannrule

You are so welcome Jennifer. I like to think that the wonderful sleeping porch you remember from your old house will be making a comeback too.

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on June 18, 2013 at 1:04 pm dorannrule

Lovely that your neighbors walk and greet. Living in the country can be somewhat lonely since neighbors are so far apart.

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on June 19, 2013 at 7:14 pm pattisj

Yes, I do, and I want the swing, too!

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on June 20, 2013 at 2:11 am gintongpinaydutch

Beautiful! I hope we have a front porch, too!

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