Hot Water Bottle
The upstairs at 421 Oak Street was cold during the winters of the '40s and '50s. Come to think of it, I bet it still is. The only heat entered the room from an open grate in the floor to the living room ceiling. If something covered the grate or the vents closed, it would be icy even under many blankets.Mom took charge and helped lessen the problem by placing hot water bottles in between the sheets just before bedtime. These bottles were actually the one quart mason jars used for canning. When first crawling in for the night they were almost too hot, so Mom would wrap them in a kitchen towel. By morning they had turned to ice. I for one would kick mine out of the bed during the night. In all the years, we never broke one jar.
