Jim Katen Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Download Attachment: IMG_7615 (Large).JPG 124.86 KB This is a 1909 home in North Portland (at the time, a humble, working class, neighborhood). This picture shows the side of a front porch. As far as I can tell, someone cast what looks like a nice, curved, tapered concrete channel in the soil next to the porch. It's clearly designed to channel water under the porch. Why? I thought at first that it had originally been placed to drain water out from under the porch and that it had settled over time to drain in the "wrong" direction. But after looking at it very carefully, there's no evidence to back that up. It really looks as if it was meant to direct water under there. I see no evidence that there was ever a cistern there. Behind the porch is a full basement. Ideas? - Jim Katen, Oregon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Moore Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Coal chute? Was there a corresponding opening into the basement? (Weak WAG...but all I've got!) [:-idea] I just noticed you said at the side of the porch...so I've got something even weaker: It's where someone stored their canoe. OK...this one I'm sure of: I really don't have a clue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bain Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 My first thought would have been the same as yours--a cistern. Did you shine a light down the clay tile beside the gutter downspout to see if it was right-angled toward the porch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurt Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 That's the driveway/entry ramp so the lilliputians living under the porch could drive their cars under there...... Or, a cistern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kibbel Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 Do you have a pic with the doors open? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI in AR Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Maybe they had a beloved basset hound with a weak metabolic rate (and correspondingly large belly) so they added a way for him to retire to the shady spot under the porch without dragging his belly through the dirt. Actually, my guess would be water collection for some unknown reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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