THE UNFINISHED BASEMENT was a dank, utilitarian place. It was where Mom stored the year’s canning, Dad kicked the furnace back into action, and the kids hid when they’d been bad. It may have been a hideout, but it was no hangout. Then, in the ’50s, came the finished basement. Now Mom and Dad could host casual COCKTAIL PARTIES, and Junior could make lots of noise with his pals. And the teens in the family finally had a place to, uh, put on all those plays.
Percentage of home buyers who consider a basement very important: 29.
Most common purpose of a basement refinishing in the Northeast in 2006: ADDING A GAME ROOM. In the Midwest: ADDING AN EXERCISE ROOM.
Percentage of U.S. homes that have basements: 68.
Sources: Tribune archives, bobvila.com, Owens Corning.
– – –
“There’s no cover charge or fee, and the food and drinks are free, In the basement, down in the basement.”
–“IN THE BASEMENT” BY BILLY DAVIS, RAYNARD MINER AND CARL SMITH
———–
nwatkins@tribune.com
