Part 5/14:
In colonial America, people devised creative solutions to cope with cold nights. Warm beds were preheated with heated copper plates called 暖炕 or by hanging heavy curtains around beds to trap heat. Yet, even with roaring fireplaces, cold corners persisted.
The 18th Century Breakthroughs: The Franklin Stove and Improved Fireplaces
The 1741 invention of Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Fireplace, or Franklin stove, marked a pivotal advance. Crafted from cast iron, it used less wood while generating more heat, with cleaner combustion and improved safety. Around the same period, Sir Benjamin Thompson in Europe developed Lundford firebacks—fireplaces that reflected heat more efficiently. Such innovations significantly elevated the efficiency and cleanliness of home heating.