Why is that Old Building Lifted Off the Ground? -

If you’re not from the South (or maybe even if you are), you might’ve looked at some of the historic buildings featured on The Forgotten South and wondered why they’re ‘lifted’ off the ground. Especially those viewers from the midwestern states. This question comes up all the time from viewers all over the world so I thought I would share more about this design feature that we commonly find in homes and churches across the South from the 1800 and 1900s.

The Koger-Murray-Carroll House in Dorchester County, SC was built on a foundation of handmade bricks, creating a large crawl space underneath where air would circulate to cool the home. You can read the full story of this home here.

Natural Air Conditioning

If we look at the function of a raised foundation, there is actually a long list of advantages to building in this style in the old days, but most importantly, this helped to work with the hot temperatures in the Summer months. In the days before AC, a house built on a raised foundation would’ve provided a natural ventilation system underneath the house, which would help to circulate air through the floorboards and into the interior living spaces.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: Historic Texas Home Kept the Candle Burning

This house was built for tenant farming families in Marion County, FL around 1920. Sitting atop a foundation of stones that are likely original to the build date. You can read the history of this tenant cabin and the farm it once served here.

In the early days, a home might’ve been built atop stones that were cleared from the field or a nearby creek. In other cases, rudimentary stumps or hand-hewn logs might’ve been used. In later years, stones and rough logs were often replaced with bricks or cement blocks.

The original stone piers that comprise the foundation of this cabin near Abbeville, SC are original to the house that was built in the late 1800s.

Prevention of Damage

Another added feature of a raised floor came when heavy rains would soak the land. Wood tends to rot when in direct contact with damp earth (except for, of course, the rot-resistant varieties). If the wood sat directly on the ground, water could damage the boards, causing rot. On top of that, lifting a building off the ground would also help to deter bugs, snakes, and other critters from entering the home.

This home in Russell County, Alabama was built in the 1870s and still sits atop the original bricks, creating a dramatic ventilation area underneath the home. You can read the story of this home here.

A Shelter for Domestic Animals

But aside from the natural air conditioning and damage deterrent, raising a home off the ground created another feature for a rural farming family: a space for their domestic animals.

This Georgia farmhouse, built in the 1890s, sits on top of brick piers. You can read the story of this house here.

In the empty space created below the home, dogs and chickens could also find shelter from the hot summer sun and the chickens would help keep the bugs at bay under their shelter.

Island Grove Methodist Church in Alachua County, Florida stood on a foundation of brick piers that helped to cool the sanctuary, along with the windows which would open to create a cross breeze in the hot months. This church fell to the ground in 2021 but you can read its full story here.

Churches and Stores Were Built Like This Too

But old homes weren’t the only buildings that you’d find from this era lifted off of the ground. Church designs across the region also incorporated this design element to prevent wood rot and bugs from damaging their sanctuaries. Stores and schools adopted the design as well.