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Tiny Iron Door Leading to the Basement

While natural gas is heating fuel of choice for many people today, up until around 1940, most families heated their homes by burning coal. Do you need a furnace? Here’s what you need to know.

Coal deliverymen traveled door-to-door to provide people the fuel they needed to power their furnace. They shoveled coal through the small door and down the chute into the basement. Once in the basement, homeowners could shovel the coal directly into the furnace. Today, most of these chutes have been sealed, though you will often still see the iron doors on older homes. What was once a necessary, functional part of the house is now a great conversation starter and history lesson.

By the way, did you know about some old homes having beds in the ceiling?