White Haven's Outbuildings
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
Operating this 850-acre farm required numerous outbuildings. These included a spring house built over the spring to provide a cool place for crocks of butter and cheese; a barn behind the main house for livestock such as cows, pigs, and sheep; and a lime kiln built along Gravois Creek to fertilize the pastures. The remaining two buildings before you serve as reminders of the work necessary to operate a self-sufficient farm.
Ice House
Preservation of perishable foods required construction of an ice house. Thick stone walls built into the side of the hill provided insulation and drainage, while a steep pitched roof with a louvered cupola vented out warm air. Large blocks of ice were cut from rivers and ponds in the winter and transported to the ice house. One room was packed solid with ice blocks layered with sawdust for additional insulation. Foods placed in the rooms were thereby preserved through mid-summer.
Chicken House
Chickens and eggs were an important source of food and income for White Haven's residents. Caring for chickens was usually the responsibility of women. Enslaved cook Mary Robinson
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Most farms kept at least fifty chickens on a half acre to produce enough eggs for family use and sale.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #18 Ulysses S. Grant series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1913.
Location. 38° 33.125′ N, 90° 21.094′ W. Marker is near Affton, Missouri, in St. Louis County. Marker can be reached from Grant Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7400 Grant Road, Saint Louis MO 63123, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. New Buildings for White Haven (here, next to this marker); Slaves Only (here, next to this marker); The Roads to White Haven (here, next to this marker); The White Haven Estate: Other Houses (here, next to this marker); The Working Farm (here, next to this marker); Early Owners of the Farm (here, next to this marker); Green Haven? (here, next to this marker); Outbuildings / ~150 Years Ago—Colored Troops (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Affton.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 7 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 3, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
