Colonial homes were full of objects that seem strange to us today. Some were everyday tools, others were homemade fixes, and a few reflected the beliefs and habits of the time. These items helped families work, cook, stay warm, learn, and even entertain themselves. Here are some of the more surprising things colonial Americans kept around the house.
#1: Rag Rug Loom
Because fabric was hard to come by, people reused worn-out clothes and linens to make rag rugs. A small homemade loom helped weave strips of cloth into sturdy mats for floors, bedsides, and doorways.
Rag rug looms didn’t need to be fancy. Simple wooden frames worked fine and were often built at home. Making rugs stretched a family’s supplies and added comfort in houses with cold floors, especially during long winters when every bit of insulation mattered.