The Cistern

Believed to be built by the Oviatts – probably a natural spring dug out and lined with rock.  Later, concrete roof believed to be installed by Kirby.  It is known that Kirby used piping from a spring to spread cold water over the house roof as a rudimentary form of air conditioning.  We do not know if this was the spring he used for that purpose, or if there was another one closer to the house.

There are both historic and science elements exemplified here.  Before refrigeration, people could keep foods preserved and cool in a root cellar, or spring house.  Butter could even be sealed into a crock and lowered down into a cistern.  Rather than being “quaint”, these people were using sound scientific principles of thermoregulation.  One can take it further and explain why cold preserves food (slows down the molecular movement and reaction).