Learn a Few Fun Facts About the Wood-Burning Stove
A woodstove could once be found in nearly every American home, but today, more efficient means of heating have taken over. Here’s a brief history of a centuries-old device, the wood-burning stove!
The first metal wood-burning stove is said to have been invented in 16th-century Europe, but the stove became more common nearly 200 years later, during the Industrial Revolution.
In the 1740s, a wood shortage in Philadelphia inspired Benjamin Franklin to improve upon the existing open hearth. His three-sided iron box, aptly named the Franklin stove, used only one-quarter as much fuel as a fireplace and could raise the room temperature higher in a shorter time.
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Photo courtesy of the .
Unfortunately, Franklin’s design was not as iron-clad as the product itself, and it did not gain much popularity. However, many subsequent wood stove designs did derive inspiration from Franklin’s stove.
Despite the wood stove’s superiority, people resisted the switch from the inefficient, wood-gobbling, smoky open hearth to the hotter, more efficient fire contained by a wood stove. Were those rock-ribbed early settlers romantics who preferred the dreamy glow of a crackling fire?
Robert Bailey Thomas, the founder of The Old Farmer’s ÃÛÌÒÁµÈË, wrote in 1823:
“So then, you have a cooking stove! This is economical, saving much wood and labour. I know it by experience. But many people are so prejudiced against them that they will scarcely look at one. Wood has become a cash article nowadays in my neighborhood. I have procured me one of Rich’s cooking stoves and think I save half my wood by it nearly.â€
Photo courtesy of the National Parks Service.
Practicality won out in the end, and by the beginning of the 20th century, 40 million American homes were heated with wood stoves, often a behemoth, nickel-plated Home Comfort or Queen Atlantic.
But, as people found other ways to heat their houses, the popularity of wood stoves waned, only to come around again in the 1970s. Then, a new generation realized the truth behind the old country saying, “Wood warms you thrice—when you chop it, stack it, and burn it.â€
Do you still use a wood stove in your home? Let us know in the comments!
Wondering which wood burns best? See our list of best-burning firewood to use. Also, be sure to read our tips for keeping warm in winter!
Catherine Boeckmann
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We have heated with wood stoves since we were married - 50 years ago. In one of our homes we had both a pot belly stove and a box heater. We found the box heater at a local flea market, and unfortunately, the bottom was burned out. Luckily, it had a part number stamped into it, and we were able to purchase a replacement through Montgomery Ward. Today we live in north Idaho and winter starts in November and lasts until May. We heat our home with a wood stove, and it burns all day every day throughout the winter. We love it!
We bought a wood stove in the 1970's during the fuel crisis and we love it! I will not be without it, and if we move from this home it will go with us. When Sandy struck LI we had heat to cook, wash and stay warm when so many people were freezing. There is a fire screen that can be fitted snuggly in the open doors ("Grandma Bear' style, Fisher Stove Co.) to turn the stove into a fireplace. I grew up in a farmhouse with woodstoves, and just love this won. Wouldn't be without it!
We have heated our home with wood almost continuously for the last 30 years. Love the family outdoors experiences cutting and gathering , and the cozy ambience of the woodstove fire.
18 months ago we moved from an urban environment to a rural environment ... has always been a dream and retirement made it possible. One of the 1st things we did was have a woodstove installed ... it alone nicely warms our 3 storey 2000+ square foot home ... albeit our house is 15 years old and well insulated. We love it!
We’ve been primarily heating our 1890’s home with a wood stove for over 20 years.
We replaced the original cast iron stove with a more efficient Woodstock soap stone stove in 2009 and have saved about 2 cords a year.
We cut, split and season our own wood, which is usually 4-5 cord a year and have only ever had to buy firewood 3 times in those 20 years………. 2 of which were completely disappointing, but a lesson learned.
We do have an oil fired boiler as a backup for when it gets into the teens and the wood stove can’t keep up, but we only have that filled once a year.
We really do enjoy our wood stove even though it’s a lot of work.
Yes, we use a woodstove in our basement to heat our 2 story home, and even during frigid temperatures, our furnace is used rarely. The heat is warmer than our natural gas furnace, and we even utilize the heat to air dry laundry in our basement. A real plus is that if there's a winter power outage, we are still warm.
I have had woodstoves or furnaces for over 40 yrs. In our current home we have a wood burning insert in our living room fireplace and a free standing woodstove in our basement.
In our three season porch we heat for greenhouse like conditions with a hardwood pellet stove (a very warm and consistent heat.
In our "all electric " home, wood as a heat source helps us maintain control over living expenses. Our monthly electric bill is roughly half of what it would be if we didn't heat with wood!
We have a woodstove in the basement. It helps warm the first floor. It is an indispensable backup for winter power outages in Iowa. No frozen pipes. We can also cook on it.
We have a woodburner in our living room...very helpful when we lose electricity during storms...keeps us warm, I can heat water and cook on it too. Wouldn't want to be with out it.
Yes, we do have a wood stove and use it every day. We love it.
