The Kitchen, Ice Box, & Pantry

The kitchen is where the maid probably spent the most time. Nearly everything had to be prepared fresh. No frozen dinners or takeout in 1907! The stove burns wood or coal and includes a coffee bean roaster even though coffee grounds were commercially available. The sink has three knobs for hot water, cold water, and hard water.

The ice box provided crude refrigeration. Ice would be harvested from rivers or lakes in the winter and then stored in warehouses, insulated with sawdust or straw. This made ice delivery available year round.

The Kinders and their maid could store kitchen equipment, dried goods, and preserved food in their pantry. It is on the north side of the house to protect stored food from the heat of the sun.

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