When we look at the history of America, we find many stories that are full of hard work, struggle and new inventions. One of those stories is that of sod houses. These houses were made of soil and grass and they contributed greatly to the development of the western parts of America.
How Did It Start?
When the people of America moved west from the eastern forests, they found that there was grass everywhere in the plains there. But there was a problem – there was very little traditional building material like wood or stone. There were neither forests nor rivers nearby, and the weather was also very difficult – sometimes scorching heat in summer, sometimes icy cold.
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. Under this, any American citizen could become the owner of 160 acres of land by paying a fee of just 10 dollars. The condition was that he would have to live on that land and do farming and build a permanent house there.
When the land was discovered, people realized there was no wood or building material. So they came up with a new way of building houses out of mud and grass. This grassy soil is called “sod” in English. This is how the “sod house” was born.
What is Sod?
Sod is basically soil with grass roots attached. It is the part of the ground that is held together by grass and its roots. When farmers started plowing fields with new technology — such as John Deere’s Grasshopper plow — thick strips of soil were produced that were cut and formed into brick-like shapes.
A typical “sod brick” was about 18 inches wide and 4 inches thick, cut into 3- to 4-foot-long pieces. These bricks were then stacked one on top of the other to form a wall. These bricks were set in such a way that their roots were upwards so that over time they would take root in the bricks above them and the whole wall would become strong.
How Was the House Built?
Building a sod house was an art.
- First the ground was leveled, then the foundation of the walls was laid.
- Bricks were set in 2 to 3 layers to make the wall strong.
- After this the roof of the house was built, which was sometimes made of wood, branches, grass and again a layer of sod on top. Those who could afford to buy wood, also got a wooden roof.
Doors and windows were mostly made of oiled paper or glass. If the family had a little money, they would order readymade windows and frames from companies like Montgomery Ward for a dollar. Inside the house, separate rooms were made with curtains or blankets. The walls were coated with a layer of clay or lime, which was then covered with newspaper or wallpaper to improve the light inside and make the house look beautiful.
The Specialty of Sod Houses
The biggest advantage of these houses was their strength and protection from heat and cold.
- These houses remained cool in summer and warm in winter.
- These houses were also considered very safe during natural disasters such as fire, storms, hailstorms and locust attacks.
- When locusts attacked, people brought their pets, seeds, crops and all the necessary items into these houses.
Sometimes schools, churches, shops, post offices and even hotels were built in these houses. This shows that sod houses were not just places to live but were also centers of social and economic activities.
But Everything Has Some Problems
Although sod houses were very strong and cheap, there were some big problems associated with them.
- During the rainy season, water and mud would constantly drip from the roof.
- People used to put tarpaulin under the roof so that the things would not get wet.
- If the stove had to be turned on, water would drip from the roof, so people would cook inside the house with an umbrella.
After the rain, the walls inside the house would remain wet, which would cause mold, insects and bad smell. Apart from this, people were very troubled by creatures like rats, snakes, insects, fleas, bedbugs and termites. Many times when the situation worsened, people would build a new house and shift to it.
Types of Sod Houses
- Some sod houses were built completely above the ground, while some were built by cutting the soil from the slopes of the hill or the banks of the rivers so that the roof and one side wall would be naturally protected.
- In terms of size, some houses were one-room with a size of less than 100 square feet.
- At the same time, large houses of 2 to 3 rooms were also built for large families. As the family grew, people kept adding new rooms to it.
Testimony of History: Sod House Museum
Today, there is still a sod house that was built in 1894 by Oklahoma homesteader Marshall McCully. This house is now preserved as the “Sod House Museum” in a town called Aline, Oklahoma. It is the only original sod house in America that is still standing today.
Marshall McCully’s house was originally made of mud, but later he installed wooden floors and plastered the walls so that insects could not come inside. He covered the roof with flour sacks to protect the family from the soil and dirt falling from above.
In 1963, the Oklahoma Historical Society took this house under its protection and developed it as a museum. Today this museum has become a historical site, where people can go and experience the life of that time. Special programs are also organized here on holidays.
Conclusion
Sod houses were not only houses made of mud and grass, rather, they were a symbol of America’s self-reliance, hard work and will to live. These houses are a living example of how man uses nature to create a safe shelter for himself even in difficult circumstances. Today, even though they have been replaced by concrete houses, their place in history is indelible.