life was totally different prior to central a/c

It had nothing to do with cooling. Can you believe TAXES?

First, they assessed on the frontage of your lot. Thus long and skinny shotgun houses.

yeah, frontage

Then by stories. Thus camelbacks--they were considered 1 story if started in the back.

Then by rooms. And closets were considered rooms!

but it's also a cooler design!

definitely!

and fireplaces in each room for heat. :

have you ever looked at the stuff at the notarial archives office?

yup. Love it there too.

I have a book for them.....

i have an idea about them i'll run past you at some point

oooh.

Charleston has "single" houses built like shotguns for cooling, but w/ exterior porch/veranda running length of house. Taxed differently?

could be taxed differently, charleston being an english city originally