White picket fences are one of the most common symbols of a happy and fulfilling life: the tenets of the American dream. But, have you ever wondered how they came to be that way? Here's a brief history of this charming part of every suburban home.
The word picket comes from the French term piquet, which means "pointed stick or board." It's typically associated with weaponry and brings up images of sharpened logs designed to attack enemy soldiers.
The picture is pretty far from your idea of the American dream, isn't it? But, that's where it all began. When Europeans first crossed the Atlantic, they settled down in unfamiliar territory and needed a way to protect their homes. So, they sharpened logs to mark the boundaries of their properties and stop anyone from sneaking in.
Later on, property owners began to paint their pickets white to show off their wealth since it was more expensive and difficult to maintain. The people who could own them either had a lot of time on their hands or could afford to pay someone to take care of their fences for them.
After the American Revolution, this kind of fencing remained a symbol of wealth and class. Citizens put up white pickets around their properties to signify their success.
The United States experienced a great change after the Second World War. As soldiers returned, many couples were reunited. Most of them chose to settle down and start their own families. And, because of the development of technology, television sets became commonplace. The shows and ads popularized certain ideas of what an ideal home life should have. And, they usually included the white picket fences that every homeowner dreamed of having.
They became synonymous with the middle-class idea of owning a home and having a happy family. As more and more people moved from the crowded cities and empty countryside to the peaceful, neighborly life of the suburbs, they began putting up their own white pickets. And, slowly, it became the symbol of an entire generation's success.
The love for white pickets died down as chain links and metal spikes rose in popularity. The latter options offered more security and protection. But, the former experienced a revival in the 1980s when developers sought to recreate the idyllic suburbs of the past. They considered them to be a symbol of openness and trust that was more common in a bygone era.
These days, white pickets remain a symbol of a happy suburban life. It's tied with American history and the dreams that build the nation. Contact one of the wood fence companies in Orlando, FL, to have them installed on your own property.