Historic Hearths (and Some Fireplace History)

In mid-January of the year of this writing,  2024,  we had some of the harshest winter weather in a few years.  During that time,  there were areas all around us here in southeastern Michigan that lost power due to ice  &  snow,  sleet  & rain,  single-digit temperatures,  and high wind.  And here we are...without a fireplace to keep us warm should we have any issues.  Perhaps I should have one built - - ....I can dream,  can't I? 

But which style should I go with?
Hmmm...

.

I submit,  here,  a directory of the locations of the hearth images in today's post:

The Cotswold Cottage Hearth was built around 1620 in England

The Daggett House Hearth was built about 1750

The Giddings House Hearth built about 1750

The McGuffey Cabin Hearth from 1789/90

The Waterloo Log House/Cabin Hearth:  not original to the 1840s cabin,  but still gives us the impression of 18th century life.

The Firestone Farm Hearth:  The Firestone Farmhouse was originally built in 1828 but was  "updated"  in 1885.  The sitting room fireplace itself is probably an original,  though updated as well.

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The idea for this Historic Hearths posting came to me more or less as a fluke.  On my Facebook page I posted just over a dozen of these photos while we were  "enjoying"  the first real winter blast of the season:  a hard & fast snowfall followed by a bitter cold spell.  So I thought it might be mentally relaxing to post such cozy photos.

It certainly was relaxing for me to look at them.

I hope they are for you as well.

But,  as I combed through my many fireplace photos one question plagued me...

When?

How?

Yes,  I'm talking about fireplaces here - - when did they come about?  And how did it all happen?

I am a curious person,  and over the years I've learned to question everything and bury myself in research to find answers.  In doing so I've learned so much.  

A 1750 Fireplace inside the Daggett House.

Before we get too much into the photos,  I thought a short bit of fireplace history might be fun...and,  really,  quite interesting.

Yes,  even fireplaces have a history!

Humankind’s fascination with fire dates back to the earliest civilizations.  Fire provided warmth,  protection from predators,  and a means for cooking food.  The earliest fireplaces,  known as fire pits,  were simple depressions dug into the ground or carved into rock shelters.  These first fire pits were rudimentary,  but provided a controlled environment  (for the purposes mentioned).

Once fire was able to be somewhat controlled by humans,  a far more complex social life took place.  The idea of a home-base was taking root for the first time,  around which a community could organize its life more cooperatively and efficiently than when permanently on the move  (nomadic).  

Enter the river rocks and basic masonry era,  where craftsmanship met elemental resources.  The construction of early hearths reflected the availability of materials and the level of technological advancement in each region.  Common materials included:  

River rock

Clay

Basic masonry  

As humans developed masonry techniques,  they began to construct hearths using stone,  slabs,  or bricks.

In these early stages,  simplicity wasn’t a stylistic choice but a necessity.  The designs were born out of the need for efficient heating,  cooking,  and safety. 

A Medieval fireplace - I do not know the year built

It was in the medieval period that the open hearth fireplace became more common.  Those living in the early Middle Ages saw the fireplace grow in leaps and bounds,  with the key change being its location in the household migrating from the center of the dwelling to the exterior walls to prevent the hall or room filling with smoke.  Also,  as two-floor buildings became more popular,  homeowners moved their fireplaces to the outside wall which led to the invention of the chimney to direct smoke outside.  The earliest existing chimney can be found at Conisbrough Castle,  in South Yorkshire, England,  which dates back to around 1185.  The addition of the chimney was a significant advancement, improving indoor air quality and allowing for larger, more efficient fires,  and is one of modern civilization’s greatest developments for the fireplace.

The fireplace was a necessity in early America.  As the hub of the house,  a burning hearth provided heat,  housed multiple fires for cooking and baking,  and served as the nucleus of family gatherings.

In New England and the Mid-Atlantic,  colonial homes had central chimneys with multiple flues so that fires could be lit in two or more rooms on each floor.  The central mass of stone or brick also tended to retain heat,  keeping the house warmer overall. 

The Daggett House - a lean-to  (or salt-box)  style home

The Daggett Home,  a lean-to style house built in Connecticut in the mid-18th century,   is a great example of this,  for it has this central  (or center)  chimney mentioned above.  The massive framework common of these lean-to's  (often referred to today as a  "saltbox house")  is built around one vast,  central chimney which provided fireplaces for most of the rooms in the house.  In colonial New England,  having the chimney to the center of the house and including multiple flues meant that fires could be lit in two or more rooms.  These central fires would effectively heat the home's center mass,  thereby keeping the building warm for longer periods of time especially during cold winter months.  In the Daggett House this includes the main floor  (below stairs)  and the 2nd floor  (above stairs);  the main floor has a central fireplace in the great hall,  the kitchen,  and the parlor.

Great Hall - Daggett House
It was so relaxing to gaze at the hearth in the Daggett great hall  (the room which would be considered the living room today).  The halls of late 17th,  18th,  and 19th-century country houses usually functioned almost entirely as impressive entrance points
to the house,  and for large scale entertaining,  perhaps for holidays or a party.

The Daggett kitchen hearth~

Kitchen - Daggett House
This fireplace in the Daggett kitchen is part of the same central chimney.

There is an interesting and touching story we hear on how Elizabeth  (Lizzie)  Melville,  the wife of American novelist Herman Melville,  wanted to modernize their old 1780s home to be more fashionable to their mid-19th century time.  Her first goal was to get rid of the big central chimney,  which had gone out of fashion long before.  Husband Herman would have nothing to do with that notion.  He loved the old chimney and actually wrote a short story about it called  "I and My Chimney"  (published in Putnam's Monthly Magazine in 1856).  In the article he wrote:  "It need hardly be said,  that the walls of my house are entirely free from fire-places.  These all congregate in the middle—in the one grand central chimney,  upon all four sides of which are hearths—two tiers of hearths—so that when,  in the various chambers,  my family and guests are warming themselves of a cold winter’s night,  just before retiring,  then,  though at the time they may not be thinking so,  all their faces mutually look towards each other,  yea,  all their feet point to one center;  and when they go to sleep in their beds,  they all sleep round one warm chimney."

Needless to say,  the old central hearth remained.

And this is the third hearth on the 1st floor,  though I have never seen it used before.  It is in the room to the left of the front door and was known as the formal parlor,  the parlor,  or simply  "best room."
All three fireplaces are a part of the same central chimney.
But that's not all!

On the 2nd floor of the Daggett Home there are two bed chamber fireplaces,  and I’ve been told there is a smoke chamber in the attic.  (The smoke chamber is the part of the chimney system that is located just above the damper and connects the firebox to the flue.  It's shaped like a reverse funnel and is designed to guide smoke from the fire up into the flue so that it can quickly and effectively exit the home.  I have not ever seen the Daggett smoke chamber.)

This is one bed chamber fireplace located on the 2nd floor of Daggett.  

And here is the other 2nd floor bed chamber fireplace.

I do not believe either of these 2nd floor/above stairs hearths have been lit since the house was brought to Greenfield Village.  I mean,  why would they light them,  other than to know if they are still in good working order?   Visitors are not able to go to the 2nd floor so,  unless 2nd floor tours were allowed - and they won't be,  due to numerous reasons,  as I have been told,  including only one escape route in case of a house fire - they will not be used.

But these hearths,  should they ever be lit,  would still use the same central chimney.  Imagine,  five fireplaces and one smoke chamber - - all centrally located! 

When I was young,  we had two fireplaces in our house,  one in our living room and the other in the basement,  and my father would begin lighting fires right after Labor Day Weekend - as soon as cool fall weather hit - and continue all the way through the beginning of the warmer days of spring.  Most of the fires would be lit inside the living room hearth  (we spent most of our time there rather than the basement).  To me,  it wasn't fall until dad had that first fire of the season and mom would light the candles.  All electric lights would be off.  On a few occasions the TV might be on,  but we all found ourselves watching the fire more than the TV until finally mom  (or dad)  would shut it off,  then the only light would come from our hearth and the candles.  I remember my dad telling me how he heard that President Lincoln used to read by fire light,  so I would try to do the same.  Often,  I would sleep out in front of the hearth,  the glow becoming a sort of night light.  

As a friend commented:  "That explains a lot!"

I also remember asking my dad if mom could cook over the open fire,  and he said no.  I really wanted that but,  well,  he was dad and what he said was law.

The look my mom gave me also told me she had no such interest  (lol).

Clear remembrances...

This is my father and mother taken in the early 1970s standing in
front of the living room fireplace I just mentioned.  Sadly,  there are no
photos to be found of  only the fireplace.  That's okay - I miss my
mom & dad so I suppose it all works out  (thanks to my sis for finding
this great image - such memories!)~

These are some of my most cherished memories,  so to this very day,  seeing fireplaces,  no matter the location,  is always a draw for me...almost like having my long-passed parents near.

AND I also have plenty of historic hearth pictures from historic locations,  mostly taken at Greenfield Village in the late fall or on those cold December evenings during their Holiday Nights event.  And a few from our Waterloo Cabin excursions as well during our 18th century cabin days - - the Waterloo Cabin is almost like a second home to me,  to be honest.

Waterloo Cabin~
The wrought iron two-candle chandelier hangs from a ceiling beam while a nice fire can be seen in the hearth.  The four of us here in this picture - myself,  Jackie,  Larissa,  and Charlotte - had just spent a long autumn day immersed in the 18th century dipping candles and making dinner,  so we enjoyed a moment's peace relaxation in a non-electric world. 

Great Hall of the Daggett House~
Though the home and hearth were built around 1750,  there is still an air of  the Renaissance period,  generally described as taking place from the 14th century  (1300s)  to the 17th century  (1600s),  which followed the Middle Ages  (from about 500 AD to 1500 AD).  To me,  this has the look of  the later Middle Ages/Medieval period into the early Renaissance.

And why wouldn't it?  We need to remember that change,  which is at a lightning pace in our modern world,  went at a snail's pace centuries ago.  If you research world history,  you'll find inventions generally did not get around very fast.  As a great example,  the first wheels were not used for transportation.  Evidence indicates they were created to serve as potter's wheels around 3500 to 4,000 B.C.  in Mesopotamia  (in Lower Mesopotamia - now modern-​​day Iraq),  where the Sumerian people inserted rotating axles into solid discs of wood for them to spin in helping to make bowls and drinking vessels out of clay.  It then took about 300 years more before someone figured out to use these spinning pottery tools/wheels for mobility on chariots.  Three hundred years!

Since time and news and change moved much slower in those B.C.  and early A.D.  periods,  naturally some forms of architecture - the fireplace,  for example - did not change quickly either and often had a look and feel of earlier times.

Daggett House Great Hall
This was a daytime photo - a dingy gray day,  in fact.

As visitors to Greenfield Village,  the only time of year when one can enjoy a nighttime atmosphere inside the Daggett home is during the month of December.  In fact,  it's the only time of year the homes are open past dark,  though one must purchase Holiday Nights tickets to visit. 

It's a different world at night there - - - - - -   

Great Hall Daggett House is so different at nighttime.
The extra candle light glowing on the right may or mayn't have happened during
the Daggett's time.  The hearth may have been the only light at night.

Great Hall Daggett House - - 
If you look close,  you can see a presenter looking out the window on the left.

Perhaps if I ever do add a fireplace to my fireplace-less home,  I would add one like the one in the Daggett great hall.  Wouldn't that be awesome?
Only time will tell...

Great Hall Daggett House
This was a bitter cold night with temperatures in the single digits.
And look at how I am dressed!
Yes,  aside from my feet,  I remained toasty.  My feet warmed up at the hearth.

Now we'll head over to the more urban city house once belonging to John Giddings,  shipping merchant.  This house was built roughly the same time-period as the Daggett House.  However,  the fireplaces tend to have a little more modern look in the more well-to-do homes,  as far as 18th century is concerned,  and it is easy to see this when compared to the rural Daggetts'.

Giddings House everyday parlor / sitting room

Giddings House everyday parlor / sitting room
This photo was taken back when Giddings was opened during daytime hours.
I did not place the wood inside the fire,  by the way.  I just held it as a pose
for the photographer.

Like the other houses inside Greenfield Village,  it is only during December's Holiday Nights event that one can experience the nighttime atmosphere of the old homes.

Giddings House everyday parlor / sitting room

I very much appreciate my friend,  and former Village presenter,  Jordan,  for taking such wonderful pictures with me.

Giddings House everyday parlor / sitting room - Jordan & I~
This is one of my most favorite photos of all time.
I believe my wife snapped it.

Giddings House everyday parlor / sitting room.
To have three candles lit in the same room as the hearth - they must be rich!

Giddings House everyday parlor / sitting room.
I captured this  "moment in time"  of presenter Melissa in 2023.
I love how the darkness,  even with a fire in the hearth,  can plainly be seen.
Oftentimes my camera will gather all the light and make the room look much 
brighter than it actually was.  So many of the photos here,  to me,  are gems.

The Giddings kitchen hearth~

Let's head over to the McGuffey Cabin hearth,  where the duel purpose of warmth and  food keeps the fire blazing.

Cabins were generally smaller than a typical clapboard home, 
with one room and probably a sleeping loft for the second floor. 
And if the fireplace is built correctly,  it may heat a larger portion of the room. 
But nowhere near what we hear in the myths:   “A forest of logs, 
heaped up and burning in the great chimney,  could not warm the other
side of the  (room).  Aunt Lois,  standing with her back so near the blaze as to be uncomfortably warm,  found her dish towel freezing in her hand.”

Cooking may have been a monotonous job for women,  but I am certain they didn't mind it nearly as much during the winter months of January,  February,  and even March.

At the tiny McGuffey Cabin a fire in the hearth is plenty to light the room,  and to keep it warm.  However,  they also decided to enjoy a bit of candle light as well.

Here is the 18th century Plympton House:

The fireplace here was built in 1640 and survived a fire about 60 years after - they rebuilt this house around the original fireplace.

Perhaps the earliest fireplaces I've ever personally visited and actually seen are the two Cotswold Cottage fireplaces.  The structure was built no later than 1620,  though I have heard that research may be telling the curators that the house might be even older than that - possibly going back into the 1500s!

However,  even 1620 was still in the later Renaissance period.

The Cotswold Cottage fireplace from 1620  (or possibly before).
This is the hearth in what I believe is the main room of this stone cottage.
No---that's not a mantle.  It is a large piece of wood imbedded into the surrounding stone.
It has a very almost gothic feel to it.

I believe that is the bake oven there inside the firebox,  with its door partly open.
I wish the cottage was still set up like a home of the period would be.  In my opinion,  to be empty is a slap in the face to history and to Henry Ford himself,  who brought it over for a specific purpose.

This building,  that was once a home,  is from  Chedworth,  Gloucestershire,  England.  It is now a fixture inside Greenfield Village where,  get this,  tea is served out in the gardens.

Why can't they do what's right and bring this beautiful historic structure back to its late Renaissance look?  In fact,  my young grandkids were disappointed to see a 400+ year old house empty of furniture.

They could still serve the tea...

*sigh*
 

And here is another cabin...Waterloo Cabin...

Waterloo Cabin
The three of us,  and sometimes one or two more,  spend a day in January or February  "experiencing our research"  at the frontier cabin.
Yes,  we've learned a lot by coming out on cold winter days,  most often with teen temps and a snow-covered ground.  This gives us a  (very)  basic understanding of what our forefathers and foremothers lived through.  But we only are there for one day!

Waterloo Cabin
On this bitter cold January day,  we found the perfect way to keep
our feet warm inside 18th century footwear!
We learned that a fire in the hearth doesn't necessarily warm the entire cabin.  

Keeping warm at the winter cabin excursion.
This is a great way to experience our research.
I was probably reading the latest jokes - 18th century jokes - which, 
even as old as they are,  can still be very funny.
Yep---entertainment of the 1770s.

So now we'll jump into the future to a 19th century farmhouse.

Another fireplace invention - - mantels.

True mantels were rare before the 1800s.  The very earliest American hearths were flush with the wall.  In English colonial homes,  fireplaces typically were surrounded by simple,  floor-to-ceiling paneling,  usually plain vertical or bead-edged planks.  Full-relief fireplaces with mantels and surrounds finally emerged after the Revolutionary War.

Fireplaces served as the heart of the home,  a gathering place for families and communities to share stories,  celebrate milestones,  and forge bonds.

The information provided above on the fireplace history that I have included in this post all came from multiple sources,  listed and linked at the bottom.  I copied and pasted it word-for-word from the various sites,  sometimes intermingling them,  so I am not claiming to have written the italicized  words herein,  lest any feel I am plagiarizing anything-------

I am not.  I am giving credit.

The fireplace in the sitting room of Firestone Farm.

The great hall of the Middle Ages,  Renaissance,  and into the 18th and early 19th centuries sort of morphed into the sitting room and/or front parlors,  which was a gathering room of sorts,  not unlike the living room of today.  The fancy formal parlor,  normally kept shut up with no one entering without permission,  was only used for special occasions,  such as perhaps a visit from the local preacher or another special guest(s),  or even for holidays such as Christmas.  However,  the sitting room  (also known as the everyday parlor)  can be used by family and friends on,  as the title suggests,  on a more regular basis.  Again,  not unlike our modern-day living room.

Note the mantle.
"True mantels were rare before the 1800s.  ...fireplaces with mantels
and surrounds emerged after the Revolutionary War."

On those cool fall days before Greenfield Village closes up for Holiday Nights,  visitors are often treated to a warming fire in the Firestone sitting room fireplace.  

Firebox is the formal name for the inside of the fireplace – the place you build the fire.
And the Firestone's firebox is simply beautiful.
Also that metal coal holder there  (center right)  is known as a coal scuttle.
 "Make up the fires,  and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i,  Bob Cratchit."  is what Ebenezer Scrooge says to his clerk after his reformation on Christmas morning
(from Charles Dickens'  "A Christmas Carol").

The mastery of fire was a major technological improvement for mankind,  and nearly every science and early history book I've seen tend to agree it was the homo erectus who discovered it.  However,  when  this discovery occurred seems to be a matter of debate,  for I've found it to be anywhere from 450,000 to 800,000 years ago  (of course,  for those who believe in a  "young earth,"  all of this would be quite different).

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As what happens often while writing a blog post,  I'll come up with an initial idea,  oftentimes for a Facebook post,  such as some of the fireplace photos here,  and that idea will seep into my brain as a  "Hey!  This would make a cool blog post!"  and then I'll morph my Facebook post with more information,  such as the fireplace info I put here.  That's how my brain works:  I question and research pretty much everything,  and then something like  "Hmmm...just where did the idea of a fireplace come from?"  will pop into my head.  I then will look it up,  gather the information,  and all of a sudden,  my original post of pictures suddenly turned into a fun history lesson.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Oh---and thanks to my family for searching for a suitable photo of our fireplace!

Until Next time,  see you in time.

For more reading upon subjects mentioned in this post:

To read about the Daggett Family,  please click HERE

To read about the way the Daggetts lived,  please click HERE

To read the history of the Daggett House,  please click HERE

To read about the Daggett Well-Sweep and how it was made,  please click HERE

To read more about the Giddings House,  please click HERE

To read more about the McGuffey Cabin,  please click HERE

To read about spending a bitter cold 18th century day at Waterloo Cabin,  please click HERE

Sources:

Much of the historical information about fireplaces came directly,  word for word,  for the most part  (italicized)  from the following sources and sites:
Golden Chimney

Rotherham Fireplace Centre

Genesis Fireplace

Old House Online

Tristan's Chimney Service

The Human Dawn  (from the Time-Life series TimeFrame -p. 55). 

Our Own Snug Fireside  (book)

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