How Shutters came to the United States

Window Shutters are a popular type of window covering that offer a traditional look and practicality. They are now popular throughout the world, but were originally established in the Mediterranean, before spreading across Europe. Their introduction in the United States came via the plantations in the American south.

Shutters are first thought to have been used in Greece, although there are conflicting opinions as to where exactly in the Mediterranean region they originated from. Wherever there first usage was, it didn’t take long for them to spread across the region. They were first made from stone or marble and were put across the window holes before the introduction of glass windows. Wood later became more prominent.

The introduction of shutters in the United States came in the 1500’s. Spanish explorers were the first to reach what is now the United States, as well as much of South America (where Spanish is still the first language) and the Caribbean. In fact, at one point around 70% of the whole of America below the Canadian border was Spanish. The first Spanish settlers in the United States were in 1565, when settlers made St. Augustine in Florida their home.

The Spanish influx soon spread and Spanish colonies in the south of the country began to appear. They grew their own food, and grew products such as cotton, sugar, rice and tobacco to sell. These became plantations, with the majority of the work being carried out by poorly treated slaves. Each plantation became their own community separated from others. There were two opposing sides to the plantations; the wealthy land owners who made all of the profits and the slaves who did the hard labour. The goods grown were mostly traded with England.

Many of the land owners lived in large wooden houses. Those originally from Spain began to install window shutters on their homes that could protect them from the searing heat and keep insects out. Because of their use on the plantation houses, these shutters became known as plantation shutters. This name has continued to be used as a general term for wooden shutters throughout the English speaking world.

Some believe that louvred shutters were first used in the southern United States. Louvres, or slats as they are also known, can be adjusted to suit the weather conditions, and today louvred shutters are the most popular type of shutters. They can be opened to let in the optimum amount of sunlight and air. This makes them useful at all times of the year.

English and French settlers also bought shutters to parts of the United States, in particularly to the East Coast areas. These included areas such as what are now New York and New England.

Plantation shutters are popular around the world today. They are still most popular in the Mediterranean countries where they originated, such as Greece, Spain and Italy, but their use is much wider. They are generally considered to give a traditional look and are common in colonial style buildings in the United States.

Andrew Marshall ©