Long ago, camps would be built around fires and people would sleep around the campfires to stay warm. Native Americans built their teepees and longhouses around the fires that warmed their homes during winter. Fire is a wonderful source of heat, but it needs to be contained and made safe. This need cued the invention of the fireplace. Pre-dating the civil war, this was a stone-lined, fireproof area set into the wall. A fire was lit inside and the heated air flowed into the house while the smoke wafted up the chimney. Because stoves were not yet invented, women cooked over the open fireplaces. This was an improvement to an open campfire, but it still only made most houses just above freezing.
July 27, 2023
