https://www.history.com/history-this-weekWhen William Patrick O’Neill, Rose O’Neill’s father, moved his family to homestead a property near Branson, Missouri, they took up residence in a dogtrot cabin that stood in the midst of thick woods near a crystal clear stream.

Dogtrot cabin? An odd name I’d never heard before, which sent me on a quest to find out the details. I soon discovered that dogtrot cabins (also known as dogtrot houses, possum-run or breezeway houses) usually consisted of two single story log cabins connected by a breezeway.

One cabin was typically used as an eating/kitchen area, with the other used as a sleeping/sitting area. Cabin windows, doors, and the breezeway connecting the two cabins created a nice flow of air to keep occupants cool during the heat of summer. The breezeway also became a comfortable place to sit and do chores like food preparation, mending, or maybe even reading. I can imagine it would also be an attractive spot for the family dog to slumber during a hot summer afternoon. Other critters might sneak in too. Could that be what prompted the possum-run name? It’s certainly possible.

Here’s a sketch done by Rose that shows part of the interior of the eating/kitchen cabin that her family used. Since no images exist of the cabins (they were torn down to build a lovely home designed primarily by Rose’s mother and funded by Rose), I thought this sketch was a wonderful peek into the past.

Interestingly, the breezeway feature is found in other historical homes built on a larger scale. For example, many plantation-era homes I’ve toured featured a breezeway to create cooling air currents for occupants.

One can even find modern homes with a breezeway, often built between the main home and the garage or the main home and an outbuilding. Same concept: great air flow along with protection from sun or rain.

I can imagine what pleasure it gave Rose to build for her family a house that went from a dogtrot-style cabin to a beautiful three-story home that featured modern conveniences such as the first indoor plumbing and toilet in all of Taney County. According to Rose, neighbors came from miles around just to look at their amazing bathroom. Talk about a conversation piece!

Yet in spite of how fascinated people were by a new-fangled flush toilet, the neighbors were apparently far too courteous to consider using it.

Even though the O’Neills never failed to extend the invitation.

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Please watch for my short interview about Rose O’Neill on the History Channel’s This Week in History podcast. Not sure when it will air, but we’re recording on June 1. Here’s a link to their podcast library.

I’ll also be talking about The Rose of Washington Square and I am Mrs. Jesse James on Rendezvous with a Writer – LA Radio, June 15 at 8pm Central Time. Hope you tune in!