random question for the knowledgeable amongst you

[mickeym]

Expect me to be spammy with the questions. I'm writing, man. *headdesk*

1930's/1940's, sleeping arrangements for same-sex siblings: probably shared a room, yes? If they did, would they have had twin/single beds, or shared a double? Also, did houses back then (assume the house was built right around the turn of the century, since this would be an older farm house) have closets? I'm thinking no, that wardrobes were used.

Anyone?

Comments

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

beds: it depends. how many bedrooms does the house have, and how many kids? if there are lots of kids and not much room they'd absolutely have shared a room and quite possibly shared a bed. if there were a lot of kids and not much room there might be bunkbeds instead of them sharing a bed.

what's the weather like in winter? in a cold climate they'd be more likely to have shared beds, because bedrooms weren't heated. (in so cal, not so much a problem, in nebraska, almost certainly.)

and just because the bed was shared, it probably would still have been a single or twin depending on the space and how much money the family had and how old the kids were. doubles were for parents or rich folks. (for values of "rich" = probably not a farmer)

probably wardrobes, yes, although depending again on the location closets might have already been in vogue when the house was built. and again, it could depend on money -- it costs more building a house to put in closets, but relatives might have an old wardrobe to give the young folks when they start out.

i'm a geek, arent' i?

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

Well, you're a geek with useful information!

This is definitely a farm(er), so money isn't going to be very plentiful, particularly since at this time it's 1941 *g* And taking place, initially, in southern South Dakota -- so definitely cold in the wintertime. Which also helps me work things around.

Thank you! :)

[rainbow.livejournal.com]

by 41 there MIGHT have been central heating...but maybe not, not on a poor farm in the midwest. we knew people in berkeley in old houses who did not have central heating (admitedly it might be more urgent in south dakota, though, so it might be something they'd scrimp more to get).