Loss of Porches in
Old Industrial City Neighborhoods

by Joan
(Rhode Island)

I grew up in a major textile city in New England, in the middle of the last century. Three-decker houses were predominant throughout the city. Residents sat on their porches, especially on warm Summer nights, to enjoy a cool breeze and converse with their neighbors, back when people took a stroll around the neighborhood. Porches and walking, helped keep communities close.

In the 1970's, during the Urban Renewal Programs, many of those 3-decker porches, were removed from the houses and not replaced. The 3rd floor roofs were left, either supported with tall, uncharacteristic columns, better suited to Southern architecture, or the roofs were left to jut out, over the front facade of the house. Either solution was an aesthetic eyesore.

Forty years later, when I drive around my childhood city, I find it sad to see the old houses, with their front porches torn from them so long ago. The residents are now indoors, most likely in front of a TV, and not outside meeting and chatting with neighbors. Our communities have grown apart; walking and porches encouraged social interaction so many years ago.

After seeing your porches website, with the beautiful examples of porches, architectural details, new long-lasting building materials and helpful ideas, I can imagine how wonderful it would be if all the porches in my city could be restored. There are cities like this, all across our Nation. People are inherently social beings; wouldn't it be nice to have a campaign to restore what we have lost? People, porches, communities... they are all linked. Thank you for the venue to express ideas.

RESPONSE: Joan, we really appreciate your comments and insights. When we started our site we had no idea how many people enjoy porches. It is interesting to note that in new subdivisions, porches, sidewalks, and the idea of community are a "selling point" for the homes.

What goes around comes around so perhaps one day people will tire of tech gadgets and we will see a resurgence of what you describe.

We think you will enjoy our video of porch memories.