The Addison Sod House is a Provincial Heritage Property located in the Rural Municipality of Oakdale No. 320. This property includes a farmyard with a sod house, barn, two sheds, a dugout, and a shelterbelt.
The significance of the Addison Sod House is rooted in its connection to the early settlement history of western Canada. Early homesteaders built sod houses as temporary shelters while establishing their farms. Made from topsoil held together by prairie grass roots, these sod houses were initially a practical solution but deteriorated quickly and were usually replaced with wooden structures as soon as possible. The Addison Sod House is notable for its innovative design, which included using sod from a dry slough-bed and a unique interlocking pattern to enhance structural stability. It featured a hip roof with wooden shingles and later received protective coverings of cedar shingles, asphalt, and vinyl siding to minimize erosion and maintain dryness.
Additionally, the Addison Sod House evolved over time from a basic sod dwelling into a more comfortable home. Initially planned for eventual replacement with a wood-frame structure, the sod components became permanent, leading to adaptations such as room divisions and the conversion of a lean-to into additional living space. Modern updates in the 1960s included electrification and indoor plumbing. An earthen cellar for storage also exists beneath the house.
The layout of the property itself reflects early 20th-century farmstead design, with a shelterbelt encircling the farmyard and a secondary yard featuring an orchard and space for a second house. The farmstead's arrangement combines aesthetic appeal with functionality, preserving a level of heritage integrity rare in the prairies today.

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Addison Sod House - Canada's Historic Places

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Inserted: 28-08-2024 20:08:18