Henriette Saisset

What people wore

Cage crinolines after 1857

Starting in 1857, cage crinolines made of sprung steel freed women from the weight of wearing multiple heavy petticoats to achieve a full skirt.

Daily life

Homes lacked running water and indoor toilets

Houses lacked modern plumbing; most families fetched water from distant sources, and indoor bathrooms were nonexistent, requiring the use of chamber pots and outdoor outhouses.

Music

Shape-note singing and The Sacred Harp

The Sacred Harp, a popular songbook during this era, taught music using a shape-note system where different note head shapes represented various pitches.

At the table

The monotonous diet of pork and corn

For many ordinary families, especially in the South and on the frontier, the diet was monotonous, often centering on the three M's: meat (pork), meal (cornmeal), and molasses. This daily fare was typically cooked in lard and served as simple, one-pot stews or cornbread.

Getting around

Stagecoach travel was bumpy and slow

Stagecoaches pulled by four horses traveled at 6 to 10 miles per hour, often requiring passengers to ride for 12 to 14 hours a day. The ride was notoriously uncomfortable, with passengers often packed tightly together and bouncing violently as the carriage moved.