ABSTRACT
Home was predominantly the domain of women and children: a sanctuary that men returned to at the end of the day. In a circular ideology, the building and grounds that functioned as “home” exerted an influence on the inhabitants and at the same time reflected their moral status. The ideology of home prescribed that the owner and his nuclear family occupy the house alone, since living with strangers as in a boarding house situation had a negative impact on all concerned. For parents wishing to bring up their children in a good Christian home surrounded by love, goodness, and beauty, living with strangers was an anathema. Well aware that their homes might appear deficient to middle-class civilians, officers’ wives repeatedly reassured friends and family that they really were comfortable. Homemade and improvised furnishings played a significant role in the army household. Middle-class civilians frequently used material goods such as clothing and home furnishings to establish their place in the community.
