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The granary was an essential outbuilding
for storing corn, flour, peas, beans, meat, milk, honey, and other food
stuffs. Other store houses were used for storing clothes and other household
articles and for sleeping in during the summer.
In the second half of the 19th Century farms usually had two store houses: one for grain and one for clothes. In South Estonia and on the islands there were often upto five or six different store houses. On the islands the various stores were usually built under the same roof. |
| The construction of store houses differs
somewhat from that of the barn-dwellings. The
walls of the store house usually rested on
stones so that the wind could blow under the floor and keep it dry. Store
houses have always had wooden floors (half
logs at first and later boards), overhanging eaves
and a door step. Tools could sheltered under
the eaves and it was a place to work on rainy days. On the coast fish were
dried there and it provided shelter for the village lads come to court
the girls sleeping inside on summer evenings.
Store houses were more ornate than other farm buildings. The wide eaves were often supported with pillars. Special attention was paid to the doors which had to be strong. Store house doors were the first to have locks and wooden linings. |
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The store house was connected with a host of rituals and beliefs. In South-West Estonia an effigy on Tõnn was kept in the granary and in Setumaa an effigy of Peko. It was hoped that both would improve the harvest. Symbols warding off evil spirits were also carved onto the walls of the store house. When the granary was emptied a handful of grain was always thrown back to ensure that good fortune would not forsake the farm.
