Springfield Tour

[L Verge]

I think the use of gutters goes back to Roman times, and I was told once that the gargoyles that we associate with cathedrals were originally designed as gutters with the water channeled to them and "spitting" out of their mouths. I remember reading about early buildings having wooden gutters, and cast iron or bronze gutters were popular in the 1800s.

What fascinates me with this set-up is the fact that the downspouts are tied into one drain that evidently runs underground. If there is a basement at the Lincoln home, do you suppose that they had the water draining into an inside cistern instead of the traditional rain barrels at the end of each corner downspout?