Before there was electricity in our house

[oneighty]

high on the cliff overlooking Lake Erie there were several kerosene lamps and one green Coleman white gasoline fired lantern.

For an icebox we had, well an ice box. An ice man would deliver ice to the house. Truth to tell ice boxes do not work as good as electric refrigerators.

The house was always cold during the cold periods. At various times the house was heated with wood, kerosene and later coal when dad could afford it.

Once my stepmother had the wood burning cook stove oven loaded up with green beans in mason jars. We were sitting in the kitchen playing pinochle. I was very young but because they always needed a third or forth hand I was taught to play that sorry game.

The green beans in the glass Mason jars suddenly exploded. The oven door was blown free of the latch and hinges and flew harmlessly across the room. We were showered with glass shards and green beans. Green beans decorated every surface in the room and many of them clung limply to the ceiling dripping water.

After the exciting happening we laughed and laughed. Laughing was good. In those days there was little to laugh about.

Did you ever live without electricity?

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