Hallways Back When Hallways Mattered
So let’s take a mental trip back to the early 1900s—before we had powder rooms, before every house had at least one bathroom on every floor. Back in the day, if you had indoor plumbing (which was rare), you had only one bathroom that was probably in an odd location. It was inconvenient to have to go upstairs just to wash your hands. Staircases weren’t built to any safety laws, and they were steep.
Hallways didn’t mean “hey I just want to get from point A to point B”. Hallways were places to take off boots, possibly drop off your hat, and stand there talking to someone for half an hour (again, apparently leaving is a twenty-minute process). They could be a busy place.
Given that, it made perfect sense to squeeze in a little sink. When it became necessary to wash your hands/face (dusty street? going into the dining room?), just go to the hallway and use the hallway sink. Problem solving without making everyone march upstairs.
HYGIENE?
ADVERTISEMENT
