Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-04-07
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FIFTY YEARS AGO-NO. II.


CONCERNING ffRE.PJACEs AND STOVES.
In my last article was talking OF fire.
places OF olden times. Justhere the editor
wilt kindly permit me TO remark tha.
more errors, IN composition or proof-iead.
ing, appeared in that last article, than in
all others combired. l am led to say thi,
because the previous numbers of the series
had so gratifying few mistakes. The
devil must have his due, and therefore
further remark that the defects cannot
fairly be laid to him. He has to carry
burdens enough, but his shoulders should
not be snddled with this--unless, as is
sometimes the case, the same, poor, wear
led, worried, thought-worn man in the
JoURNAL Office essays to fill the manifold
capacity o. author, editor, compositor,
proof-reader, devil and mailing-clerk
To build fire in ore OF those old time
places, WINS no small job. Kindlings were
plentifully provided the night before; il
the backlog is burned out, new one,
foot or over in diameter, and say four feet
long, must be put on the hand-.rons; next
a iore-siick, from six inches up, in dame
ter, and about the same length, was placed
in front, with chips or barks between;
then smaller sticks likewise separated
were placed on top-the aim being to have
the pile, containing from sixteen to an
eighth Of cord, so open that the fire when
kindled would draw well and burn fast
Usually half burned stick, in Goals, was
buried in ashes the night before, to open
out the next morning all alive and ready
for ensy use. When such fire was fairly
in operation, it cracked and roared and
was sight full Of happy cheer. l knew
OF a double log house oi large dimensions
| that had driveway through the center,
and fre.plnces so large that the wood TO
be used was OF sled length and actually
hauled by yoke of oxen in front of where
it was 10 lie burned. The fire in one of
those places, on cold, winters night,
when fairly burning reminded one of an
ont door log.heap or an active lime or
brick kiln, or a volcano in eruption, as
much us anything else. What waste of
wood, we would Indignantly exclaim, IN
these almost woodess days. But then
when one stepped out doors, he was in the
heart of forest, limitless, moaning,
gloomy aud grand. Such fire places had
chimneys like the spacious throats of vol
canic craiers, whose chief advantage was,
that no vociferating sweep was required To
clear them of SCOT. But on the other
hand, furniture OF all sorts unless secured,
was liable to be taken up by the powerful
draft, if placed toD near! Must once in a
while have joke.
in my earliest boyhood days. My mem-
ory, ON that point, is not very clear-not
30 clear as it is concerning the play
sleds l used, and the welcome VISIT of
Santa Claus at Christmas time. But il /
remember Alright heating stoves were the
first in use, and very poor ones at that.
They were smallsi7ed, iron, box stoves
very simple in manufacture, wholly with
out ornament and, with many orther sorts
remembered chiefly by the headache and
other discomforts which they caused. /,
was soon found necessary to have an open
vessel containing water, on the top, in
order that the constant evaporation wOnld
keep the air of the room wholesomely
moist. The older people, who had enjoy.
ed the open, blazing, cheerful fires in the
spacious fire places, and seen the wierd
shadows chase one another along the bare
walls, in their happy, innocent sparkling
, days, could never become accustomed Il
, the black, dead, ugly things that showed
no fire except through time made cracks
or open doors. Ugh the horrid stoves
These heating stoves may have originated
or developed, to Use Darwinianism, from
the little, comfortable foot-warmers USED
by our fore parents in sleigh'rid and a
church. Who sees anything of the sor
now, or pans for warming beds in freles
rooms? All! these degenerate days, il
which comfort is sacrificed to style. Shee
iron stoves and then stoves with cast iroI
bottoms and sheet iron tops, more or les
adorned with figures, came into use. IL
all these wood WAS burned. More anon.