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.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer Garner for her tragic loss
Jennifer Garner has had a successful career in Hollywood, but she has also stayed close to her parents.
The actress wrote on social media on Monday that her dad had died. He was 85 years old.
William John Garner was Jennifer Gardner’s dad. Who was he?
KBTX News 3 says that William John “Billy” Garner went to Texas A&M University and got his Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in 1961 and his Master of Chemical Engineering in 1976.
Stephen Garner was the dad of Jennifer Garner, Susannah Kay Garner Carpenter, and Melissa Garner Wylie.
Pat Garner, their mother, was his wife for almost 60 years.Jennifer wrote a blog post on January 1, 2024, to celebrate her parents’ 59th wedding anniversary.
“Happy 59th wedding anniversary to my loving and sweet parents!” “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making sure my sisters and I had a safe and happy childhood,” she wrote.
She was born in Texas and grew up in Charleston, West Virginia.
The Hindustan Times says that William worked for Union Carbide as a chemical engineer.
What killed William John Garner?
“My dad died in peace on Saturday afternoon.” When he left, we were with him and sang “Amazing Grace.” Did we carry him across or scare him away? That’s a good question. “The death of an 85-year-old man who lived a healthy, happy life is not a tragedy, but I know that grief is inevitable and can come up at any time,” she wrote.
“Today is a day to be thankful,” she said.
“We are thankful for Dad’s kind nature and quiet strength.” For the way he teased with a sly grin and made up the part of the all-in, always-patient girl dad. He has a strong work ethic, is a good leader, and has faith.
But Jennifer did say that William was treated at Charleston Area Medical Center and City of Hope. She did not say what killed William.
“We want to thank the medical staff at Charleston Area Medical Center and City of Hope.” Your care made Dad’s life longer and gave him more time to do the things he loved, like being with his daughters and grandchildren, cheering for his beloved Aggies, being in charge of a boat, and most of all, being next to our mom, his wife of 59 years.
My sisters and I will never get tired of talking about how great my dad was, so please bear with us. For now, I’m sharing these memories to show how grateful I am for the kind and smart man, father, and grandfather he was, as well as the loving legacy he left behind.
Patricia Ann Garner is Jennifer Garner’s mom. Who is she?
Southern Living talked to Patricia about her family history. She grew up on a farm near Locust Grove, Oklahoma.
Harvey Newton English and Violet Margaret Sayre English bought the farm in 1936, during the Great Depression. Patricia was born in 1938, two years after her mum and dad moved there.
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