The Purpose of the Bottom Drawer in a Hoosier Cabinet

History

• Most kitchens in the early 20th century were not equipped with cabinets. Hoosiers were developed to house spices, flour, sugar and cooking utensils all in one spot. They included a counter top work space. By the 1920s, most houses came equipped with built-in cupboards, making Hoosiers less necessary. They are still sought after today as antique kitchen and dining room accessories.

Parts

• Hoosiers are constructed with three basic parts. The top portion is a shallow space housing several small compartments with doors and a larger one with a roll-top closure. The base section usually has one large compartment with a slide-out shelf and some smaller drawers. The top and the bottom are connected with metal channels that guide the sliding counter top to enlarge the work space.

Purpose of Bottom Drawer

• The bottom drawer on the Hoosier cabinet is intended for storage. Baking utensils, pans and other cooking items can be stored there.