Description: 5" x 7" photograph of the Take-Down House from a collection of models for the Ohio State School for the Blind. The Take-Down House, a typical American residential architecture, was used to illustrate the many parts of house in detail. The model house, as tall as an average eight-year-old child, could be examined with little stooping. The interior of the house could be examined when placed on a low table. The house could be taken down, hence the name, to reveal its every detail --- the sides, roof, and sections of the house. The house had a large front porch, with columns of brick and wood and wooden balustrades. Windows opened easily due to concealed weights and pulleys that were enclosed at the side of the window sash. The basement would be exposed when the model was lifted from its brick foundation. In the basement would be found a hot air furnace, laundry tub and an electric panel board, including a fuse box, switch and meter. When placed back on its foundation, the first-floor parts could be examined by pulling away a side of the house. The kitchen had an exact replica of a sink. While the living room, with a fireplace, extended across the front of the house. The second-floor featured two bedrooms, with closets, a bathroom, and stairs that lead up to the attic. In addition, the supporting framework of a house could be examined by removing parts of the house. Model dimensions: length 6' 1/2", width 2' 11", height 5'. Photographs and descriptions of models were included in the book "Models for the Blind," compiled by workers of the Ohio Writers' Program. The book was meant as a guide, to be used in the building and study of models, and as documentation of the achievements at the Ohio State School for the Blind. The models were a result of research, design and construction by employees of the Works Projects Administration. Models were made of durable materials to withstand regular usage. The average cost of labor for larger models was $45. A special room was built to store the models where teachers could borrow them to be used in classroom instruction. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F02_066_001
Subjects: United States. Work Projects Administration; Blind--Education--Ohio; Ohio State School for the Blind; Model Architecture, Domestic--Ohio--Pictorial works.
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)