January, 1911

In the hills outside Danville, Kentucky, Lida Goode counts what she has: three chairs, one chipped bowl, a pail that holds water.

What Is Haint Blue?

Haint blue is the soft blue-green long painted on porch ceilings, doors and shutters across the American South. "Haint" is a Southern word for a ghost or restless spirit.

Where It Comes From

The custom is most closely tied to the Gullah Geechee people of the Lowcountry coast, where the color was believed to confuse spirits and keep them from crossing into the home. It spread well beyond the coast and is still painted on porches today.