Electricity didn’t come to our town until about 1947. And although electricity suddenly became available, most houses had never been wired for electricity, so the use of electricity was by no means universal right away. And, in fact, it was only several years later when farms built outside of town were able to enjoy having electricity. In the days before electriity, everyone had an ice box and, usually, a regular delivery by the ice man. If the ice man brought the new cake of ice before the old cake had entirely melted, we would set the end of the old cake of ice in a washtub and put it on a chair near a window, and the breeze blowing in from the window, across the washtub with its chilly load would cool things off. In the mornings we set the tub of ice near a shady west window, and in the evening, we would set the tub of ice near a shady east window. Of course, people who lived in cities had access to electricity earlier than that- but 1950 would have only been thee after people in our town had any up close and personal experiences with electricity. So it would seem reasonable that kids would want to get in on the ground floor of getting cooled off by a machine which made blades turn round and round inside a little cage and creating a breeze. Even after electricity was introduced and the houses began to be wired for electricity, people still did not rush right out and buy refrigerators. But, once we had fans, we could put the tub full of leftover ice anywhere in the house and create a cool breeze as soon as a fan was plugged in nearby.
PicaraJustina about 1 year ago
If it’s so hot, why is Pee Wee wearing a coat and knit hat? For that matter, why does Sluggo still have on his jacket?
jagedlo about 1 year ago
Now they’re all fans of Nancy!
gzitver about 1 year ago
The Korean War had started almost two months before.
databass about 1 year ago
Fortunately, the rumors that Pee Wee was killed in Vietnam are false since he regularly appears in the new strips.
Zebrastripes about 1 year ago
Dat Nancy sure knows how to attract her friends….whew…it’s hotter than he¡¡!
snsurone76 about 1 year ago
Notice that all those kids have the same handwriting.
anncorr339 about 1 year ago
Sluggo thought it was the military draft so did I
brklnbern about 1 year ago
Well at least it wasn’t draft beer, but an outside fan does so little.
LoisG Premium Member about 1 year ago
Electricity didn’t come to our town until about 1947. And although electricity suddenly became available, most houses had never been wired for electricity, so the use of electricity was by no means universal right away. And, in fact, it was only several years later when farms built outside of town were able to enjoy having electricity. In the days before electriity, everyone had an ice box and, usually, a regular delivery by the ice man. If the ice man brought the new cake of ice before the old cake had entirely melted, we would set the end of the old cake of ice in a washtub and put it on a chair near a window, and the breeze blowing in from the window, across the washtub with its chilly load would cool things off. In the mornings we set the tub of ice near a shady west window, and in the evening, we would set the tub of ice near a shady east window. Of course, people who lived in cities had access to electricity earlier than that- but 1950 would have only been thee after people in our town had any up close and personal experiences with electricity. So it would seem reasonable that kids would want to get in on the ground floor of getting cooled off by a machine which made blades turn round and round inside a little cage and creating a breeze. Even after electricity was introduced and the houses began to be wired for electricity, people still did not rush right out and buy refrigerators. But, once we had fans, we could put the tub full of leftover ice anywhere in the house and create a cool breeze as soon as a fan was plugged in nearby.