Keep Cool & Carry On
Historically speaking, staying cool during hot weather—particularly in humid, hot weather—has been almost an art form. Air conditioning is very much a modern convenience. It was only invented at the beginning of the 20th century. So, how did people manage before air conditioning?
Home Designs for Air Flow
As a young girl I used to wonder about my Granny’s high ceilings. Before the advent of air conditioning, which removed humidity from the air, her high ceilings would have made living indoors so much nicer during summer. Large windows and wide porches are more for aesthetics now but they were life-savers for many during the 1940s and before.
Transoms were also common, to allow air circulation while maintaining privacy. Window fans were helpful as they could be made to draw air in or out. I definitely remember setting up fans like this! Two lesser-known tricks were hanging a damp cloth in front an open window and taking up rugs for the summer.
Many homes from the World War II era and earlier had trees growing near the home to help keep the sun from bearing down on it. People used louvered shutters, screens, blinds, curtains and sheers to keep direct sun from shining through windows. Insulating the attic and installing an attic fan to draw out air were costlier and perhaps less common, but helpful. White exterior paint reflected some of the sun’s rays as well.
It may be hard to imagine now, but sleeping porches and outdoor kitchens were also popular. Kitchens were often placed at the back of the house where they could be more open but private. They typically had a screen door at one end to allow more air flow.
Foods for Beating the Heat
Cooling foods were very popular—including things like melons, berries and other fruits, cold pastas, salads, cold meats, milk, sandwiches, cold potatoes, pickled vegetables, gelatin salads and icebox cakes. If you would like recipes, check my other blog posts with authentic recipes including tapioca desserts, salads, sandwiches and an orange icebox cake.
Cooking methods using the least heat would have been preferred. We have a definite advantage today with our slow cookers, pressure cookers and air fryers.
The Famous Church Fan
It would be remiss to leave out church fans, those ubiquitous bits of beautifully decorated card stock stapled to what looked like oversized popsicle sticks. What lady in church was without one?! Even when churches were air conditioned, the air was still warm enough for these to make a huge difference.
My Granny always rose by daybreak to get as much as possible done before the hottest part of the day. We picked beans in the early morning hours—being careful about snakes—and she stayed inside between lunch and dinner. I spent those hottest hours at the community swimming pool, which was another great way to cool off.
Keeping the Kids Cool
Long before Slip ‘N’ Slides, kids loved wash tub “pools” and being sprayed by the freezing cold water from the outdoor hose. Adults were more likely to have an extra bath or shower. Soda fountains with their shaved ices, soft drinks and ice cream were a treat. I have many memories of stopping by our small town’s soda fountain with my Granny. Perching on the high, red leather-covered, swivel fountain stools made my spirits as bubbly as the ultra-sweet, fizzy sodas we ordered. It didn’t hurt that the soda fountain was part of the town drug store where there was always air conditioning. That was one of the main draws of movie theatres, too—for a nickel or a dime, patrons could sit in the cool darkness of the theatre and watch their favorite cartoons and movies for as long as they wished.
Other Helps for Humid Days
Most people preferred light-colored clothing, natural fibers like linen, and special weaves such as seersucker. Slip covers were placed on furniture, too, that could be washed to keep living areas fresh.
Today we have even more options—dehumidifiers, ceiling fans, battery-operated fans and cooling towels for starters. We also have chemical options that draw the water from the air.
Hydration: A Most Important Help
One of the most important ways people beat the heat was by staying hydrated. Water was important but could cause nausea for people who were overheated. Traditional, fermented drinks such as shrub, haymaker’s punch and switchel were the solutions to sickness caused by too much water in the heat. These drinks usually contained vinegar or ginger, both of which helped keep the stomach calm. Barley water and fruit-infused water offered a welcome change when indoors.
Here are two lovely beverage recipes that would have been much enjoyed during the 1940s. With rationing, the sugar and lemons might have been a challenge in some places but homemakers would have been able to use alternate sweeteners, and the lemon juice could be replaced by a small amount of vinegar—though maybe not with quite as delicious a result. Try one or both of these this summer, and see how they did it way back when!
Mint Julep
A 1937 non-alcoholic version of a Southern classic, this is a delicious minty-ginger delight. This recipe makes about 1 quart, enough for 2-4 servings.
Combine
1/3 cup crushed mint leaves
½ cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice and
¼ cup water. Let stand 30 minutes.
Pour over
Ice cubes [in a medium-sized pitcher] and add
1 pint ginger ale.
Tea with Mint Syrup
A refreshing twist on regular iced tea. The syrup recipe makes enough for about 4 servings.
Pour fresh hot
Tea over
Ice cubes or crushed ice and sweeten
to taste with
Lemon mint syrup. Garnish each glass
with a
Slice of lemon through which is thrust
a
Sprig of mint.
Lemon Mint Syrup
Boil
½ cup water
¼ cup sugar and
¼ cup corn syrup 5 minutes. Chop
Mint leaves to make 6 tablespoons, add
Juice 1 lemon, add to syrup and let
stand several hours or overnight.
Add
Green food color to make a delicate shade.
References
Bradley, Alice. The Alice Bradley Menu Cook Book: July-August-September. New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, 1937.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2