Why are most windows in Vermont inclined?

When driving through the scenic countryside of Vermont, you may notice that there are some unusual houses here. These strange little details will make you take a look again. On the second floor of some old houses (and sometimes new houses), there will be a window with an angle of 45 degrees.

Vermont people call these windows "witch windows", "coffin windows" or "Vermont windows". This kind of window is almost unique to Vermont. They began to appear in houses in Vermont around 1830. To this day, you can still see them in many places in Vermont. These strange-looking windows are actually quite practical, and the folklore behind the names is also very interesting. Why do they call it "the witch's window"? This stems from an old superstition: witches can't fly into angled windows on brooms because their brooms will be blocked by the windows. I don't know why witches can't go sideways, but that's not the point. So building an angled window at home can prevent witches from entering.

The name "coffin window" comes from another popular Vermont folklore. Because the stairs of local old houses are usually narrow and tortuous, it is difficult for family members to carry coffins up and down the stairs if a family member dies unfortunately. The existence of these windows allows people to carry the coffin out without going up and down the stairs, which simplifies the process. In fact, the witch's window is very practical. When people add an ear room at home, this new building usually blocks the external horizontal wall or other walls, which means that the house will lose a lot of ventilation and light. But sometimes there is not enough space on the external wall to install ordinary windows, and it is not cost-effective to place customized windows. In order to be more practical, some Vermont residents will choose to install 45-degree windows. Inclined windows can not only let sunlight into the house, but also let fresh air in after opening the windows. And in many cases, this kind of window is made of wing scraps. I have to say that the local people are really smart, and they came up with this innovative and environmentally friendly solution as early as the19th century.

As for why this architectural phenomenon only appears in Vermont, no one knows yet, but it does add unique scenery and some interesting legends to Vermont.