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It’s not surprising that the storage shed has a long history. A look back at it makes it obvious that there is an intrinsic compulsion among the human race to accumulate possessions, even beyond the space that we have for storing them.
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When our belongings begin to overtake our living quarters, the logical course of action would seem to be to draw the line, and begin jettisoning the useless junk, right? Not so fast! Apparently, our propensity for hoarding has always been much stronger than our reasoning skills, thereby making it seem sensible to find or build a place to store our things. So overwhelming is our need to hold onto our stuff, even that which will never again be of use to us, that we’ll even pay someone else to store it – sometimes for years. Almost makes you want to invest in some storage units, doesn’t it?
That really says something about us. After all, if it were another person or persons trying to take over our homes, we’d kick them out into the cold – or the hot. Season notwithstanding, we simply wouldn’t put up with it. Our possessions are a different story, however, and we’ll continue to put up with them – or, in this case, put them up – long after they’ve overstayed their welcome.
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No Need for a Messy Garage
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Since the dawn of humankind, people have used whatever materials were available to them for constructing various forms of shelter. In the earliest times, it was a common practice to build up an entire structure from the bones of a mammoth, including its jaws, skulls, and tusks, and cover it with the skin. Some huts were made from wood, and sometimes, animal skins were draped over wooden frameworks.
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It didn’t take long before these modest abodes began to expand, as they were divided into separate rooms, and, eventually, hearths were added. Naturally, the larger they became, the more possessions the people gathered, and the next thing they knew – yep, you guessed it – their dwellings became over-crowded. Thus, the first separate storage structures were built, which, like the homes, were literally skin and bones.
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Cave Used by Ancient Egyptians
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Those who lived in caves were lucky – all they had to do was to keep digging new alcoves within the caves, every time they needed more storage space. Of course, the upper echelon probably had separate caves just for their stuff, depriving others of the chance to set up housekeeping there.
Ancient Egyptians dug underground bunkers, and lined them with reeds, for storing grain and other necessities. Every culture had its own way of sheltering itself from the elements, or, as in the case of the Eskimos, actually used the elements for shelter. They built igloos from snow and ice, to keep themselves out of the snow and ice. Ingenious!
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Archaeological studies of ancient societies’ sheds have produced some of the greatest insights into their modes of living. The reason that their storage sheds are especially revealing is that, unlike in modern society, they were used mainly to store items that were vital for survival. Farmers used them for animals, crops, and equipment. Businesses used them for their inventory. In many cases, the sheds were used as workshops for making furniture, tools, clothing, shoes, and the conveyances of the time. The remains found in these types of sheds tell what crops the farmers raised, which animals they kept, as well as which ones they hunted, what they manufactured, and much more. What would your shed tell future generations about you?
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Part of our language for centuries, the word “shed” has not strayed far from its Old English spellings of shedde, shadde, and shad, all of which are derived from an Old Teutonic/Anglo-Saxon word, meaning “separation” or “division.” The Anglo-Saxons, however, had another word, shud, which meant “cover,” which could also fit in with today’s meaning. There is also speculation that “shed” may be a form of the word “shade,” which would make sense – in a sense.
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The exact etymology will never be completely clear, because Old English did not have stringent rules for spelling, or even the same alphabet that we know today. Instead, there were endless alterations of words, based on the preferences of different scribes, to whom it was more important to try to pinpoint regional dialects. Heck, they couldn’t even agree on how to spell William Shakespeare’s name, a few of the versions of which are "Shakspere," "Shaksper," and "Shake-speare.” (and, by the way, wouldn’t you like to know what was in his shedde?)
English lesson aside, the shed, in its many incarnations, has evolved throughout the centuries. Members of ancient Roman aristocracy had magnificent sheds built on their premises. For more modern examples, which are also closer to home, the expansive grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello are dotted with sheds that range from small and elegant, to large and elaborate.
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Shed Used in the Early 1900's
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GazeboCreations.com Shed Designs
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Today’s definition of “shed” is simple, and, with few variations, described in most dictionaries as “a simple roofed structure, typically of wood, used for storage or shelter.” For most of us, it means “an old, crumbling backyard shack, with a leaky roof, and uneven doors, held scarcely closed by a rusty latch and padlock, and packed to capacity with tons of old household and garden junk, which is threatening to burst forth at any minute.”
At least, that’s the way it has been for as long as we can remember. However, over the past few years, the perception of the old backyard shed has slowly been changing. It is no longer considered only as a place to store lawn mowers, tools, rakes, shovels, fertilizer, rock salt, pool cleaning items, and broken bicycles. In fact, today’s sheds are available with enough creature comforts, including electricity and plumbing, to make creatures comfortable enough to live in them.
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The look of the shed is also changing. Available in box styles or barn designs, with gabled roofs, cupolas, vinyl and cedar siding, skylights, shutters, and window boxes, they’re attractive and practical, and can even beautify and add value to your property.
So, come on in and take a tour of today’ shed – and prepare to be amazed.
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