All Fired Up

Evoking a rugged, can-do spirit, the humble cast-iron wood stove has been warming homes and hearts since 1642.

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Object Lesson

Slow Burn: When the first cast-iron stove was produced by a Massachusetts foundry in 1642, it was little more than a small iron chest. It wasn't until about 1740, when Benjamin Franklin introduced his simple wood-burning stove featuring a grate and improved airflow, that a cast-iron stove was even able to heat a large room. His straightforward heating method-and all the designs it inspired-made the stove a staple for everyday Americans and remained the primary home heating source until the post-World War II introduction of central heating.