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Nothing about living in the Barn was more central to year-round residents than the fire. With the exception of portable electric heaters a few housemates would use surreptitiously in the winter, all of the heat in the Barn -- what there was of it -- was generated by three wood stoves. A large brick fireplace in the dining room added a lot of character, and in a pinch a little heat, to the Barn's downstairs. Most of the time, however, we left it unused. At one point it served as the sole display area for the BJ Premore "demonic ugly face" collection, which consisted of a single (but large) velvet portrait. One additional method of heating the house was employed when the oven was left on, unused, for a several hours at a time (gulp).
The main wood stove was cursed by many for its apparently idiotic design. Unlike the smaller, ordinary wood stoves elsewhere in the Barn, the main stove was a giant metal box with a stovepipe attached. Opening the main door at almost any time would instantly result in huge floods of smoke, making the "quick throw" technique for loading wood a useful skill. Small holes in the stove from missing bolts and unsealed joints made it possible to actually see the fire inside from certain angles without opening the stove.
One final fire-related event of note happened around early April, 1999. Apparently, some local (trespassing) kids were playing with fire in the field around the windmill and lost control of it. A couple of acres of grass and brush were burned before the blaze was extinguished. No serious damage was done, luckily.
| A look at BJ's demonic ugly face collection. |
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