A Roaring Fire


An article I read earlier reminded me of facing freezing weather when getting out of bed when I was growing up.
Yes, Florida can have cold weather, sometimes in the teens...or tens or? 
Some history:
In the 1800s, oranges were grown as far north as North Florida, South Georgia, and southeast South Carolina.
In 1835 a Great Freeze took place from February 2-9 across southern Georgia, southeastern South Carolina, 
and northern Florida. During this freeze, the St. Johns River was frozen, "several rods from the shore," and 
people were able to walk a distance from the shore. 
I remember groves in the McIntosh area in the 1960's. I believe prior to the great freezes of the 1880's 
(1885-1886 & 1894-1895) they reached Micanopy. But, I digress.
Our old house (likely built around 190x) had only a fireplace for general heat...a wood stove in the kitchen 
as well. No insulation at all.
Getting up in a freezing morning was a challenge. Mama would build a roaring fire in the fireplace and then 
roust us out of bed. We would run to the fireplace and get dressed. Roasting our buns on one side while freezing 
the other!
The kitchen offered respite. That old wood stove could turn that small room into a sauna!