[KEVIN]

LOL...our up stairs was also NOT heated. Like you...We'd also have so many heavy home made quilts on us it was hard to roll over...lmao. Take a glass of water to bed and break the ice in early am to get a drink !! NO GUFF !!
Mom and dads bedroom down stairs had a large oil space heater in it...big as a furnace. This was directly under our inside bedroom....there was a big cast iron grate in the floor beams right above it. On the real cold frigid nights...that oil heater sprung to life, the hatch up stairs was lifted and we had some semblance of heat coming up thru the grate it was very comforting thru those nights and cold days.

 

[3macs1]

LOL...our up stairs was also NOT heated. Like you...We'd also have so many heavy home made quilts on us it was hard to roll over...lmao. Take a glass of water to bed and break the ice in early am to get a drink !! NO GUFF !!
Mom and dads bedroom down stairs had a large oil space heater in it...big as a furnace. This was directly under our inside bedroom....there was a big cast iron grate in the floor beams right above it. On the real cold frigid nights...that oil heater sprung to life, the hatch up stairs was lifted and we had some semblance of heat coming up thru the grate it was very comforting thru those nights and cold days.

No hatch but had a big cast iron one also between the floors . My middle brother and I shared one bed in that cold old room unlike today when everyone has to have their own and many mornings I would find him in the hall laying on it asleep trying to stay warm
We grew up many miles apart Kevin but sure sound like we were raised very similar which I will always say never hurt me and am glad to have experienced what I did.
I assume your dad fished and mine mined coal and those trades were far from rich people in those days we were if anything dirt poor but man we were well fed and happy
Cheers

 

[louisbear]

I remember the coal truck backing up to the basement window and the man shovelling coal down the chute into the coal bin. Many a times I filled the coal scuttle and topped up the coal fired beast in the basement. Also, you had to make sure the water tanks on the front did not go dry. The furnace was a big round contraption that went all the way to the basement ceiling and up through to the floor in the main hallway. It was capped with a big metal grate that was the only source of warm air for the entire house. I think a second, smaller grate was installed in the upstairs hall way at a later date.

I remember using my finger nail to write my name in the thin layer of ice that formed on the inner side of the single pane of glass on the bedroom window. Every one had a wool blanket and a home made quilt that one of the relatives made on their bed, Thank goodness for talented relatives.

My older sister had a white mouse she bought at the Metropolitan on Charlotte street if I recall correctly and one day it escaped from its cage. I came running up out of the basement with the coal covered mouse held tightly between my hands and announced “I caught your mouse.” Well, when she tried to clean the coal dust off of her pet, it turned out to be grey.🐭🐭🐭🐭

 

[3macs1]

I remember the coal truck backing up to the basement window and the man shovelling coal down the chute into the coal bin. Many a times I filled the coal scuttle and topped up the coal fired beast in the basement. Also, you had to make sure the water tanks on the front did not go dry. The furnace was a big round contraption that went all the way to the basement ceiling and up through to the floor in the main hallway. It was capped with a big metal grate that was the only source of warm air for the entire house. I think a second, smaller grate was installed in the upstairs hall way at a later date.

I remember using my finger nail to write my name in the thin layer of ice that formed on the inner side of the single pane of glass on the bedroom window. Every one had a wool blanket and a home made quilt that one of the relatives made on their bed, Thank goodness for talented relatives.

My older sister had a white mouse she bought at the Metropolitan on Charlotte street if I recall correctly and one day it escaped from its cage. I came running up out of the basement with the coal covered mouse held tightly between my hands and announced “I caught your mouse.” Well, when she tried to clean the coal dust off of her pet, it turned out to be grey.🐭🐭🐭🐭

Yep I remember it well but that man was me here. I would guess you had one of those huge cast iron arco's they were common and one here also. Had to take my starir case out and a boom truck to get it out of the basement since no way would it come apart or could we lift it by hand
Yes I stored three ton in the basement bin and one listing 3 ton of coal free two young guys came and shoveled it back out the window in a few hours
take care