From Fred J Henzel

A 19th century wood stove was brilliant inventions. You can find images and descriptions of them all over the web. Large cast iron fixtures, they had a big opening for the wood which was kept burning through the winter, and even during cold nights in the summer. Slots could be opened on the top and skillets, pots, and pans placed to cook over—perhaps not as convenient as our modern gas and electric but not a far cry either, and a marvelous example of multi-purposing. How many happy days and nights did our ancestors spend nearby those stoves, warming themselves and toasting Christmas and New Years when they came?

But, if we dare think that the modern age has lost something in these years, think of modern wood stoves. Yes, they still exist and are becoming ever more popular as winters increase in severity, heating costs climb, and our economies make wood a more accessible resource than dollars for many. In fact, our modern stoves actually beat the historic models in almost every way. Sure, you can’t cook on them usually (although wrapping dough and cinnamon-butter around a dowel and cooking it in the opening turns out delightful) but modern stoves are completely safe, eliminating the risk of the chimney catching the house on fire. They use fuel more efficiently, and are built to higher standards to last. But the sense of family, warmth, and happiness that they bestow is eternal—connecting our stoves of today to their ancestors of the past.