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Southern Style Central Entryways

The front hall was the public face of the typical Southern home in the Antebellum era. Reflecting the social standing of the family, the entryway was designed to make an instant impression. Typically located in the center of the home just behind the front door, it followed the symmetrical design of typical Southern homes of the pre-war period. In larger homes, the center hall would have spanned the length of the house, with doors at the front and the rear, and may have even been used as a parlor. Other public rooms such as the library, dining room, and parlor were typically located next to the entryway. For families with smaller means, such an expansive layout would not have been possible. A more common layout would have been a front hall that extended half the length of the floor plan with work rooms, such as the kitchen, scullery, and laundry behind it. Other typical features—depending on the size and proportion of the home— might include fireplaces, grand staircases, and the best furnishings in the home.

As the main reception area, the central hall served a broad swath of functions, from important to mundane including the place from which to greet guests and from which to accept the mail and deliveries. The layout isolated the cold and would have helped corral outside dirt and mud so that it could be easily cleaned. Social visits, or “calling,” were required by proper society, and the central hall would have served as a place to greet friends and acquaintances. In addition, business transactions were almost always handled in person and the main entryway provided a place to conduct such dealings.

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