Men and women have always been smart enough to come in out of the cold and warm themselves by the fire. When preparing dinner by the fire became included in the process is anyone’s guess, but surely it must have occurred somewhere around that same time. Whether warmth emanated from a campfire, tent or teepee, according to many archaeologists, the very first stoves were open structures composed of natural stones. The first historical record of one being built occurred in 1490, in Alsace, France. It was made entirely of brick and tile, including the flue. The closed in brick stove … Continue reading →