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Do you have a front porch? Chances are that if the home you live in was built in the 1970s forward, it doesn’t. The porch gave way to the backyard sometime around the 60s and 70s.

An article that I read suggested that the disappearance of the front porch corresponds with a dramatic change in our culture and society. It is a sign of a change in attitudes and neighborly spirit. The article pointed out that the porch was kind of the hub for social activity in the neighborhood. Whether it was a wave to a passing neighbor on a walk or in a car, you were seen and conversations were traded.

At the same time the porch design was disappearing, it was the backyard that was taking its place. The patio became the new area where people spent their time. What happened is that people withdrew. Fences were put up, in the name of privacy. In recent times, they have become as much a function for security as well. What a shame.

Here’s a great porch. This is a house in Shelbyville, Kentucky along a historic district. It was this house that my brother’s wife bought a number of years ago, and I’ll bet the front porch was a major reason she loved it. This home was built in the early 1900s. You can clearly see that it was a part of the design that lent itself to usage.

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The first house my parents bought had a porch just like this one. We spent a lot of time on it just sitting and talking.

I’d like to find the article or paper that was written about this cultural change. It explains a significant shift in our society.

Did you have a front porch? My guess is that if you are younger than 35 and did not live in an established (older) neighborhood, you didn’t. If you did and have a picture or memory of it, share it with me.