Byrnesville, Barnesboro, Northern Cambria, Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Inside The Shanty

In the online dictionary, Wiktionary, a shanty is 'An old run-down house or shack'. Where I grew up in Pennsylvania a shanty was a work shed and sometimes a wood shop. The shanty my grandfather built was as much a wood shop as a work shed.

There were at least two work shanties built in the back yard. An early shanty stood where the second (the one I am describing) stood and was between the house and two large black barns. It was as black as the barns. When the barns were taken down I believe the first shanty was taken down and rebuilt.

This second shanty was built right off the back of the house, maybe just 10' between the back door of the house and the only door on the shanty. There was a wide cement walkway between the house and the shanty. More narrow sidewalks went around to the front of the house and around the shanty and up the incline of the backyard to three steps which led up to the 'alley'.