Notes
I think this image does an amazing job capturing life in this place at this time. It's got the log cabin with the dog and kids and pigs and chickens. It has a swing for the kids to play next to the junk pile of retired farm implements. It's got the snow and the washbasins and the cooking pots. I had to provide you an inset with some detail because I had so much fun exploring it.
Dean Fletcher identified the location as the loess hills near Glenwood Iowa, which seems correct. That would make it circa 1900, when Laraway lived there and was exploring photography.
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Comments
Does the roof have a sod insulating layer?
Will on 17th January 2023 @ 7:03am
What a wonderful photo.
The woman is actually smiling. Not sure I would be smiling under such harsh living conditions.
I love the bit of cheerfulness of a flower box.
The cabin logs are huge. I wonder what tree they are from.
I would never have guessed this was Iowa.
L.E. on 17th January 2023 @ 7:31am
Good old days? NOT (we lost power for six hours sunday, thought my world ended).....
Arlen on 17th January 2023 @ 8:22am
It looks like they laid a more modern roof over an older sod roof.
ArthurB on 17th January 2023 @ 9:21am
This photo is very interesting. Frankly, I am surprised this very rustic scene is circa 1900 in Iowa, I would not have guessed this. I would have thought things were a little more domesticated and civilized in that part of the country by 1900. That said, I am sure there were plenty of rural people without means that had to make do with what they had and managed to live under these conditions.
kmb on 17th January 2023 @ 4:33pm
Thank you Arthur for giving us the enlargement.
If you google Loess Hills National Scenic Byway you will get a description of how the hills were formed and some photos.
I didn’t see this place
L.E. on 17th January 2023 @ 7:57pm
Great photo of 'real' living back in the day! I didn't realize that Iowa was so 'mountainous'! :-)
Tomr on 17th January 2023 @ 9:07pm
Truly: This must prove love is blind :-)
Delano V on 21st January 2023 @ 1:34pm