Before there was electricity in our house

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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at the family cabin in the woods.

being days and nights when we lost the power. The kids would go ballistic, running for the board games and portable radio. I have a gorgeous chandelier in the dining room which is also a candle holder. The only time I will allow it to be lit is Christmas Eve and power outages.

We too have a wood cook stove (but I will remember to refrain from canning during a power interruption :) I cook our regular meals on the stove and we usually make smores. I also keep plenty of water on hand for the bathroom.

I wouldn't want to live without power indefinitely, but because we are so prepared, I don't mind an interruption. In fact when the kids were little, we would have an 1860's day once a year during the summer when we would not use anything which required electricity. Maybe my kids (now 17 and 18) remember those 'educational' days and enjoy the challenge.

We too used to have a camp with no power. Even built a deck using a chain saw, and truth be told, it came out really, really well.

We did not have electricity even though it was available a few hundred yards away along U.S. Route Five. Dad was the first to build on the Lake Erie cliff. As others came along and built next to the cliff the power company finally decided it would be worth their investment to bring electric to 'The Cliff Colony'. At least we had a neat name. Hahaha

In my wife's area in South Carolina there were the Rural Electric Cooperatives which brought electric to the country people. Last I heard Duke power was trying to take it over.

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had several scenes in an opera hall that was lighted by candle chandeliers.

The scenes required the presence of firefighters. In one scene the singers costume was set fire.

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I am just too cheap to buy the candles:)

I moved to a little village where the power wasn't as reliable and got knocked out by most strong thunderstorms. We lit candles and an old kerosene lamps that had belonged to my great grandparents.

wall mounted lamps with reflectors? They were way more sophisticated than the table type.

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That would have been cool though.

seemed to always leave a ring of kerosene wherever they set.

My wife has dozens of 'collectible' lamps. Some are quite attractive. Perfumed lamp oils are available now days.

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Same for running water... it does give one a perspective and appreciation for the things we have when you return to "civilization,", though!

on a dug well a hundred or so feet from the house. It often went dry. There we were on the edge of Lake Erie with no water.

We did not need water for the outhouse. Sponge bathing was necessary. Did not have a tub anyway.

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popcorn in the old timey basket popper designed for fireplaces, lit lots of candles and toasted marshmallows. When I was a kid, TVA was much less reliable than today.

Both into homes with electricity. The house I grew up in had electicity when it was built in 1912...and also gas lighting and capability and gas built into the walls just in case. My parents had that turned off (somehow) when I was a kid.

I love you stories, oneighty.

There was and is a lot of country in New York State. In my part of the state we have more cowboys per square foot than Crawford Texas--I bet.

Thank you for commenting on my stories. Go see my journal. All stories. Hahahaha.

Also I have a long love story 'KAZUKO' in --thenecessarylanguage.com- a new site for DU writers and poets. (See writing group for more information)

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Built early in the last century. During remodeling a few years ago we had to disconnect the piping to the gas lamps and heater outlets.

My Dad was born in 1906 I think Mom was born 1911 or so.

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