Operated by the Friends of Historic Meridian
Rural teachers salaries were low, so they were frequently hosted by the parents of their students. Often the teacher would take turns staying with different families. First with one family for a week, then another family the next week, and so on through the school term.
Families used to open their homes to visitors for a fee. This was particulary common when a woman was widowed and needed income to survive.
The owner of the home would rent out one of their bedrooms and serve meals in a common dining area. The food was originally placed on a low cupboard on the side of the room, which became known as the "side board". The visitors initially served themselves, although it become customary in later years to all sit at the table together and pass the food around.
"Boarding" became to be the phrase used to describe people who were in need of "room and board."
It meant they planned on returning for the next meal. Laundry was done once a week and you only received one cloth napkin to use with all of your meals for the week (generally breakfast and evening supper).
If you re-folded your napkin after breakfast, it meant you were planning on being back for dinner. If you left it unfolded and laid it on top of the plate, it meant you would be leaving that day and the hostess could remove the napkin for laundering.