Housing Plants
The Brush House This was the common round or oval community dwelling of the valleys, which was sometimes 40-50 feet in diameter. A frame of willows was constructed and curved in toward the central roof hole, the frame then being covered thickly with brush and foilage. Several families had their sleeping quarters around the interior, with a central space reserved for all to cook in. There were usually two doors. The beds were made of mats of grass or tules laid on the ground, or sometimes placed on raised platforms.
The Sweathouse
This was smaller, circular house, constructed in a similiar way, except a pit a foot or more deep was dug first and dirt piled on top of the brush roof. A fire or red-hot stones were used to start a profuse sweating. The sweat house was used by the Eastern Pomo for ceremonies and healing.
The Dance or Ceremonial House
This was built like the sweat house in a circle, often over a shallow excavation, and with dirt piled on top of the brush roof. But it was usually much larger, sometimes 70 feet wide, with 2 doors, and a smoke hole. Usually the doors were at the beginning of passageways leading into the big room. Leaves and small branches of trees were spread around the outer parts of the circular room for the spectators to sit on. In some areas, especially the north, plants were used in the walls.
Summer Shelters During the summer season the Eastern Pomo often moved in to the cooler hills, where they lived in temporary leantos or under brush shelters made mainly to keep out the sun.
