Kitchen

This room illustrates and reinforces the idea of someone’s station: one group seen as better than another Enslaved individuals were “here, but not here” - they were present to serve, not to be a part of daily conversations and activities. In addition to the practicality of the workspace, (the rising heat from cookfires heat the rest of the house and the location being suitable for having cooking activities go on while other activities are completed) the Winter Kitchen area reinforces the “out of sight” idea, the literal placement of the winter kitchen beneath the house reinforces this idea of station. Enslaved individuals who worked in domestic roles such as child rearing, seamstresses, cooks etc. would likely have slept in the main house, or where they worked, such as this kitchen.

Additionally, outbuilding kitchens, location(s) unknown, had practical features and helped to reinforce this idea of station: practically, it was a fire hazard to cook inside the house, so much of the cooking may have been done in separate buildings. Station: This building was physically away from the Prestons’ daily life/activities.