Guest houses were once similar to modern bed and breakfasts, offering a daily meal and shared maintenance duties. They provide an affordable alternative to hotels for mobile workers and travellers, with some now offering private baths and better privacy. Economic needs have led to many large houses being turned into guest houses, but a change in American society has led to their decline. Boarding houses can still be found, but often without communal meals. They are more common abroad, particularly for students.
Guest houses have become a rare sight in the United States, but they once served much the same purpose as modern bed and breakfasts
establishments. At least one daily meal would be included in the lodgers’ rent, whether it be a communal breakfast, lunch or dinner. In exchange for a bed and meals, individual tenants might also be expected to share in maintenance chores and other duties assigned by the landlord or homeowner.
For mobile workers and travellers, guest houses offer an affordable alternative to hotels or short-term apartment rentals. Rooms were often spacious enough for a single person’s needs, even if bathrooms had to be shared or privacy was limited. Some guesthouses now provide private baths for boarders and better insulation between rooms for a sense of privacy. The beds may once have served as beds for the owner’s family members, so they should be reasonably comfortable and clean.
Economic needs very often push the owners of large houses to consider turning them into pensions. In his semi-autobiographical novel Look Homeward, Angel, author Thomas Wolfe describes his experiences growing up in such an establishment, run by his mother. Many of the boarders were colorful characters, making for an interesting blend of cultures and backgrounds. During the height of their popularity, tenants tended to stay for months or even years, becoming part of an extended family of sorts. As boarders moved to other cities, others moved to take their places.
A general change in the working class of American society gradually spelled the end for many pensions. Fewer single workers felt safe living communally with almost strangers. Those who could afford small apartments or find roommates to share expenses with have moved. Many owners have been disappointed in their roles as both hosts and cooks. It became more tempting to convert their large houses into apartments or limit their use to a bed and breakfast.
Boarding houses can still be found in the United States, although many have moved closer to boarding houses or youth hostels without communal meals. The practice is more common abroad, particularly in combination with what Americans call private schools and Europeans call public schools. These houses provide students with a bed and full meals throughout the term.
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