NYTmes Magazine 1937 Sod House Photo

Among material dropped off from the Sheridan family was a yellowed copy of the New York Times Book Review section from  September 19, 1937 reviewing The Sod-House Frontier by Everett Dick.

The photo was credited to the Nebraska State Historical Society in the New York Times Book Review section in 1937.

Professor Dick was on the faculty of Union College in Lincoln. His surname raises some interest as there were a couple of "Dick" families among the Germans from Russia in Sutton.

The photo deserves some study. First, the team and wagon on the roof/prairie are conspicuously posed. The two animals constituted an appreciable portion of the fellow's net worth.

Second, the annex, lean-to, summer kitchen or whatever to the right of the house is something I'd not seen before. It looks to be a really useful and valuable addition to a soddy. Especially the boy's swing hanging from the primary beam. Gotta love it.

The house is technically a dugout with soddy-like exposed construction

These photos tip us off as to what the family deemed to be important to them. The team is foremost. Mom and Dad are seated in chairs brought out for the photo shoot and there is a spare to the left just in case you missed it. The women, Mom and two daughters, perhaps near, or young teens are dressed up well. Dad's work clothes are elsewhere. 

The house is technically a dugout with soddy-like exposed construction.

The front of the house faces somewhere between east and near south, depending on the time of day. We all should have sufficient imagination to get some feel for what the family's life must have been like.

The article doesn't give a clue as to the location of the dugout.