It's a case of he shed, she shed.

Sheds in general have been part of the New Orleans landscape for centuries. They were once a nearly universal feature of shotgun houses. Typically, they stretched across the rear of a lot and were attached to neighboring sheds, like little wood townhouses. They were made of cypress planks with a single pitch roof and served many purposes.

By the 1890s, prior to the advent of the three-piece indoor bathroom, the back might contain a flush toilet and running water to fill laundry tubs. Yes, the shed was a water closet, laundry and storage room. Clotheslines stretched from the back of the house to the shed and were at full sail on red-beans-and-rice Mondays. Competition was stiff to see who had the brightest whites on display.

A she shed is equally versati

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