“‘Lean-to House”
September 1 and September 5 Segment
The earliest Nantucket dwellings evolved from the lean-to house also known as the “saltbox”. This form has a 2 story front wall and 1 story rear wall with a long sloping roof called a cat slide. The lean to house was usually situated with its front facing south to allow the sun to heat the large wall and its windows while allowing north winds to blow over the rear slope of the roof. Over the years most Nantucket lean-tos have evolved into full 2 story houses, but a handful still retain evidence of their cat slide roofs.