History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

4 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON.
larged. This was usually accomplished by an addition in
the rear. The roof on a two story house was continued at
the same angle, down to the height of the first story, and
sometimes lower. This was termed a "lean to," or in the
vernacular of the times a "leanter." In it generally, a
kitchen and buttery, and occasionally a bedroom, were
provided.
Outside doors were of oak, more especially
Front Door.
the front door, which was double sheathed,
strong and durable, sometimes studded with huge nails or
spikes,^ and nearly always divided horizontally. Fastened
by stout oaken bars, they were practically impregnable
against the assaults of the savages. Occasionally, how-
ever, they managed to tomahawk a hole sufficiently large
to admit a gun-barrel, but seldom are they reported as
having demolished a door. The solid wooden latch was
raised from without by a heavy cord or leathern thong,
thrust through an aperture. When the latch-string was
out friends were welcome, when it was withdrawn, enemies
found it difficult to enter, even if the bars were not in
place.
Roofing.
Shingles were used somewhat when the town
was first settled, though thatch-grass was
plenty along the banks of the Connecticut. Houses were
covered with thatch in the neighboring towns of Hatfield
and Hadley, as late as 1679. Undoubtedly the first houses
built in Northampton were thatched, and it is very probable
that the first meeting house erected here was covered
with the same material.
Piazzas and Paint
Little need existcd for the modern luxury
equally Unknown. Qf .^ piazza ; indeed there were convincingreasons
against any such comforts. They
greatly increased the danger from fire, whenever any little
difficulty with the Indians occurred, and the sturdy pio-
1 There is a tradition that the old house which stood on the lot on Pleasant Street,
near the present location of the brick house, occupied by the late Dr. Graham, was
picketed during the Indian wars, and that a heavy oaken door, filled with spikes to
resist the Indian tomahawks, with the date 1703 upon it, had been seen on the premises
within the memory of persons recently living. This was undoubtedly the homestead
of Preserved Clapp, and was one cf the houses fortified, at the commencement
of Queen Anne's War.