For heating and cooking, wood was the fuel of the day because it was readily available and inexpensive. A cast iron stove was used for baking, stovetop cooking, space heating...and getting irons hot to press linens.

A metal ash bucket was kept handy as frequent firebox cleaning was necessary. The close proximity of the woodbox and the stove (less than today's building code of 36") would make a modern-day building inspector cringe. Radiant heaters usually had a sheet metal, brick or tile hearth as well.

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