Early Winter Bedding

Fireplaces in bedrooms were rare in early America, and, even if they had them, the rooms would still get cool in the winter. Therefore, the bedding reflected that. For one thing, the adult beds were often higher off the floor, where the coldest air settled. This even continued through the turn of the century with the popular iron bed frames.

Bed coverings, especially for the wealthy, often included beds with canopies and curtains that could be closed to block some of the drafts and cold air. Cover in colder regions often piled on the bed during the winter with so much weight it became difficult to turn over during the night. Bed warmers, lidded pans with a long handle attached, were filled with hot coals and placed between the sheets on cold winter nights a little before bedtime and then removed right before lying down.

Mattresses filled with feathers tended to be warmer than those filled with corn shucks, leaves, dried grass, or other materials. So, homemakers saved the feathers from the fowls cleaned to cook. Of course, beds were put together differently then. Ropes were strung through the bed frame in both directions, and the mattresses rested on them. A wooden tool was used to help keep the ropes tight enough not to sag.

Of course, the poorer the household, the less the family had to offset conditions. Although it's interesting to take a look back into history, most people wouldn't like to live there permanently. We're too used to being comfortable.

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