Root Cellar

Root Cellar. . , Archaeologists uncovered evidence of a small building built over a 3 foot deep pit in the ground, dating from the Washington family era at Ferry Farm. Analysis of the artifacts found at the site, along with comparison to other 18th century structures, lead to the conclusion that this was a storage building for vegetables, fruits and other preserved foods, commonly called a root cellar. The pit in the ground under the building was used to keep perishable foods cool. The root cellar was a support building for the kitchen, which was a stand-alone structure also located somewhere in the work yard., The final root cellar building will be comprised of log planks, notched at the corners, and "chinked" with clay daub between each plank. The pitched roof will be covered in clapboards. The building will have one door and no windows. The pit under the building will be accessed through a trap door in the floor.