OH-MV-MEMORIES-L Archives

Archiver > OH-MV-MEMORIES > 2005-08 > 1123375007


From: "Walter Niblick" <>
Subject: Re; Coal
Date: Sat, 06 Aug 2005 20:36:47 -0400


Hi Guys; From the time when I was about 5 years old my job was to take a
bucket down to the cellar and pick up as many of the the small pieces of
coal I could carry up the stairs so my mother couild keep the pot belly
stove going. When I ran out of small ones I beat the big ones with a hammer.
I recall the coal man filling the coal bin through the cellar window. The
cellar door was actually the floor of a closet that lifted up. Sometime
about 1948 my dad installed a fuel oil stove behind the pot belly one. That
really stunk the kitchen up, but since dad had a filling station it was far
cheaper to heat with oil then coal. I can recall the old pot belly turning
orange. Great for warming up after playing in the snow.
I would guess that heating with coal had to run into the late 50`s. I do
know we sold a lot of fuel oil in 1950-51. Usually by the gallon jug.
Anyone remember the kids walking along the RR tracks picking up coal that
fell off the trains? Sometimes I saw the train fireman throw some off.
Glad to see a little action again on the site. I have been a little under
the weather myself. Hope everyone is doing well.
Walt


This thread: