July 26 – August 1, 2024Vol. 26, No. 7

Old-Time Tips For Beating the Heat

by Esther J. Perne

Living with, accepting, adjusting to those intense heat spells of summer isn’t all new. Old-time lake dwellers and Vacationland visitors alike had their ways. What ways?

Tall Trees and Long Docks – Original camps were often “buried in the trees,” especially lofty pines. The trees provided a living space that was private, refreshing and cooling – sometimes too much so. That's when the long docks, longer than the shadows of the tall trees, came in. Walk out on a sunny dock to get warm again.
Porches – Almost all cabins, camps and lodges had porches, open-sided structures broad enough to hold chairs aplenty, roofed over against the sun (and rain) and angled to catch the breeze.
Shades, Shutters, Awnings, and Curtains – Definitely not just decoration, these were all variations of window covers used to shut out the sun. Some folks followed a routine of opening all their windows at night to let in the cool air and shutting them each morning to keep the cool air inside.
Ice Houses – Many personal camps, lodges and businesses had their own ice houses where a year's worth of ice harvested from the lake was stored.
Detached Kitchens – A fire precaution that also prevented the cook stove from heating the rest of the camp or main building.
Breezeways – Open-sided, walkways inviting to the breeze, that lead to the detached kitchen, a woodshed, a detached bathroom or toilet facility or a laundry room.
Hammocks – Fish-net style hammocks provided their own mini air conditioning from below, were popular outdoor retreats for napping or reading and could even be hung indoors for sleeping on super hot nights.
Mosquito Netting – The protection that allowed going outside to cool off or even to sleep outside without getting attacked by bugs.
Dressing for Coolness – Broad-brimmed hats and floppy sunbonnets; tight braids and upswept hair; long, loose dresses and skirts and baggy shirts; white, white, white — light colors reflect heat; bare feet.
No Exercising After Eating – This old wives' tale, now debunked, required dedicated downtime (resting, reading, napping) after eating but was also a great reason to stay quiet during the heat of the day.
And then? Swim, bath, immerse. Old-time lake dwellers and Vacationland visitors spent a lot of time in the water.

<– Back Print

Download Full Newspaper: High Res | Low Res (Details…)

<— Summaries • Next Article —>