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Constructed between 1851 and 1860, Stagville's two-story, four-room timber-frame quarters are rare survivors of an unusual form of slave house. Throughout the South, a typical slave house would have been a one-room, one-story structure. However, the number of individuals housed in each room at Horton Grove was probably about the same as elsewhere, being from five to seven individuals. The design of the Horton Grove slave houses employed brick nogging, which not only provided insulation from the heat and cold, but also deterred rodent infestation, which could have created health problems. Family records reveal that the design of these buildings was a deliberate attempt on Paul Cameron's part to provide a healthier living environment for his slaves. In other words, his architectural investment protected his human investment. Though in need of complete restoration, some of the Horton Grove slave dwelling have received partial restoration in recent years.
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