Sit on the Front Porch

People used to sit on their front porches, chit chatting with the family after dinner and waving and greeting neighbors as they were out for an evening stroll. Today, real estate ads still advertise, “Rocking chair porch.”

I just wonder if anyone ever sits in those rocking chairs.

If you drive around Monticello, you will see some houses that all look alike. They were built between 1880 and 1920 and are called Queen Anne’s even though Queen Victoria was the Queen at the time.

They have a wrap-around front porch with a main door and then one off to the side. I figured the main door was for the special guests and the other door is for anyone who just wants to go through the kitchen to the rest of the house, like the family or someone delivering something.

Porches were treated as outdoor living rooms, complete with potted plants, wicker furniture and rockers. Back to those rockers again.

Somewhere along the way, the front porch got smaller and lost its importance. Eventually people starting using the back porch for entertainment, screening it, adding a roof and a ceiling fan or two. Neighbors only showed up when invited.

I used to love to sit on my grandmothers’ front porch in her swing or the double rocking chair and listen to the family tales. When someone drove up in the driveway once, my grandmother said, “I declare there’s sister and them,” and we all knew who “them” were.

Now invite a neighbor to sit on your porch, Monticello!