Remember those cold winter days when you had to walk to school in the face of a wind that seemed to cut right through your wool coat? Perhaps you were the young person who, even with gloves on, spent the entire day ice skating on a frozen pond or building snow forts. For those of us who were born in the 50s, 60s, or 70s, enduring the bitter cold of winter was a common occurrence. Using a charcoal hand warmer was another unique way to stay warm.
Charcoal warmers were a necessity for the winter months before disposable heat packs and battery-operated warmers were introduced to the market. For those who were outdoors a lot, they were quite useful.
These hand warmers were designed to be comfortable, not only to keep your hands warm. You would place a bit of charcoal inside a metal container lined with felt, slide it inside your pocket, and allow the heat to disperse. Those bitterly cold winter days were somewhat more tolerable thanks to this tiny device.
Though its technology may look antiquated now, it was a very effective system. The felt lining kept you out of direct heat while letting warmth slowly seep through the metal container, which was intelligently made to store charcoal sticks that burned constantly. The charcoal would not burn out too quickly because of the airflow at the back, and it would last for hours.
Consider it a tiny, reusable, and effective furnace for your hands. Disposable goods weren’t very popular back then. These durable hand warmers were treasured items that were handed down through the generations.
Hand warmers were a need back then, not an extravagance. Winters appeared more severe, but that didn’t stop people from working or going outside when it got chilly. The bitter cold was a little easier to bear if you were lucky enough to have one of these heaters. The charcoal hand warmer in your pocket was a silent ally against the cold, whether you were hunting, fishing, or just doing errands.
Our parents and grandparents also found these warmers to be extremely helpful during their arduous, chilly workdays. These devices provide much-needed respite prior to the widespread or dependable use of contemporary heating systems.
It makes me grin to think of these little instruments. They stood for preparedness and the will to simplify things, even if it meant concentrating on little pleasures. They were passed down through the generations, lent to friends in need, and valued for their warmth at all times.
It brings back happy memories of a charcoal hand warmer providing consistent warmth when you most needed it. It’s evidence of human ingenuity and tenacity as well as the pleasures of basic comfort in the face of bitter cold.
Farmer finds newborn calf freezing in the snow — and saves his life with a hot tub
Like us, a lot of animals are susceptible to the dangers of cold weather. People going above and above to keep them warm is always heartening, as they are vulnerable to conditions like hypothermia and frostbite.
Similar to the farmer who improvised and saved the life of a freezing young cow by using an incredibly inventive and unexpected approach.
Dean Gangwer raises cattle on his property in Rossville, Indiana. On a frigid morning in 2015, Dean discovered a startling new addition to his property.
That one of his cows had given birth in the middle of the night was unknown to him. Unfortunately, she gave birth to her calf on top of a snowdrift, and now it was freezing.
The calf was breathing furiously, and Dean was fighting to keep his eyes open. He raced the cow to his house in an attempt to save it.
He knew enough about cattle to figure out that the calf needed a hot bath. And Dean happened to have his perfect cow-sized bath, a hot tub, ready to go!
Strange as it may sound, the tactic worked quite well.
I got in fully clothed, held Leroy up to keep him from drowning, and we had a great hour-long bath, Dean stated WRTV. “I think the ending is going to be fantastic for him, and we both came out warm.”
After that soothing jacuzzi session, the farmer wrapped his calf in warm, cozy blankets.
Leroy is the name of the calf. The cow’s body temperature eventually regulated, and he was ready to return to the herd.
The farmer adds that although sharing his hot tub with the cows was a quick and considerate decision that helped save the little cow, it won’t happen frequently.
“Leroy’s hot-tubbing is over,” he announced. “It’s clear that his days in the hot tub are over, but he might still occasionally sunbathe in the grass going forward.”
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