Slaves Only

At White Haven, a simple bead-board door contrasted with the finer paneled doors throughout the rest of the house and suggests that only slaves used it to enter and leave the home. Restricting movement by requiring slaves to use back doors like this one was one method of control. The Dents may have forced slaves at White Haven to use this doorway, and passing through it constantly reminded them of their status.

Grantwood Village, Missouri · United States