tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996440436704248937.post5185854205207294588..comments2023-09-18T00:40:25.493-07:00Comments on Early American Writings: Colonial Cooking HearthsGregory LeFeverhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11872137290650811690noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996440436704248937.post-53513117944176404832011-10-04T11:11:53.911-07:002011-10-04T11:11:53.911-07:00Thank you for leaving your informative comment, Km...Thank you for leaving your informative comment, Kmidas. You're right ~ most of the explanations I received from curators and the like were that the lower opening housed the fire itself. Your explanation also makes sense. I hope others read it as well.Gregory LeFeverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11872137290650811690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7996440436704248937.post-42971411067886694402010-08-21T11:29:11.012-07:002010-08-21T11:29:11.012-07:00Enjoyed the article, I respectfully differ on your...Enjoyed the article, I respectfully differ on your photo caption for the photo of the Sheldon house from Deerfield. It is a common mistake to think that the chamber below the oven is a firebox. Having built a number of period reproduction fireplaces, and having baked in a period style bake oven for some time, the heat in the oven was from a fire built in the oven directly then removed using the ambiant heat to bake. The chamber below was a storage area for ashes which provided lye and were saved for soap making. respectfully, Kmidas, Laconia, NHKmidasnoreply@blogger.com