Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • November 27, 2017

Perhaps I have ruminated on this before. First we complain that it’s too hot, then we complain it’s too cold. We complain that it’s too cold for June and too warm for October. I am sure it’s been the same thing for thousands of years, well, at least hundreds. But when it turns cold, and I firmly continue to deny myself the warmth of the Observatory wishing to remain at Mitchell House as long as possible, it always gives me a renewed look at what it was like for the Mitchells and others in the nineteenth century and earlier – heck, even later – at least before improved heating systems in the 1930s and 1940s.


I grew up with good old-fashioned radiators in a Colonial Revival built in the 1920s. I LOVED the sound of them clanging on and the steam sounds – I had great ones too in some of my dorm rooms at Mt. Holyoke that dated to the 1920s. The sound was comforting and cozy. Sometimes, not always that warm because my Dad was a lover of keeping the heat down as he didn’t like it hot (I think it kept the germs at bay, too). My memories of coming home from school in winter are my Mother sitting at the breakfast table with her cup of afternoon tea, her cowl-neck sweater her grandmother (my Other nana you may have read about here in this blog) made her when my Mother was in her late teens, pulled up over her nose, only being lowered to sip her tea. Her hands firmly wrapped around that HOT mug.


Imagine only having a fire in the kitchen and maybe the sitting room to keep you warm – the rest of the house almost stone cold – or at least only getting a limited amount of warmth from the chimney mass and heat rising through the house. Not terribly warm. Most houses did not get much above 40F and I’ve read accounts of wash rags freezing on lines inside the house after dishes were washed. Eek! But then, people were used to that so it’s hard to think of stepping into that from what we have but for the Mitchells to do the opposite – shocking but I am sure would be delightfully welcomed.


I still long for the banging and steam sounds of the radiator. The old 1700s tavern my family has lived in for many, many years now has an oil fired furnace – fan forced heat. Not the same – the banging of dampers in the system doesn’t compare. And it’s always dry in the house – steam radiators added some wet to the dry air of winter.


Yeah, complain, complain, complain. Baby, its cold outside.


JNLF

Recent Posts

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger June 16, 2025
June 1851 My Dear Sister . . . . Mrs. Dassel has painted me kneeling at my telescope. It looks like Adeline Coffin and is of course not handsome. If thee was here thee would have Mitchell’s {William Mitchell Barney, son of Sally and Matthew Barney} painted at once. She has a head of a child N. P. Willis that is very lovely. She has taken a room at the Atheneum and put up about a dozen pictures – very beautiful – Isabel is lovely. She has not tried to make a portrait, but a very pretty picture . . . . She is now engaged on Abra’m Quary – he is much flattered by it and it will be a fine portrait. I think we shall buy it or a copy for the Atheneum . . . . She will paint father also for herself – having made a pencil sketch . . . .We like her very much . . . . The above is from a letter sent by Maria Mitchell to her eldest sister, Sally Mitchell Barney. In it, Maria details what everyone in the Mitchell family is up to. She includes some details about Herminia B. Dassel, an artist who came to Nantucket to paint the last Native Americans and also took an interest in the famous Mitchell family. This was of course four years after Maria’s discovery of the comet. At the time of this letter, Maria was still the librarian for the Atheneum and the portrait of Quary that she mentions possibly buying for the Atheneum, she did buy as it hangs in the Atheneum by the front door today. Another Dassel portrait of Quary is in the collection of the Nantucket Historical Association and the portrait of Isabel Draper is currently on display at the NHA’s Whaling Museum – on loan from a museum in Rhode Island. The portrait Maria states she posed for at the start of the letter is in the collection of the MMA. It was given to us in the early 1990s by Sally’s great granddaughter – the granddaughter of Mitchell whom she mentions above as well. Maria and Dassel would become good friends – Maria was named the godmother of Dassel’s daughter. And the sketch of William made by Dassel that Maria states would become a portrait? It likely did come to fruition. It made its way down a side of the family but was unfortunately lost, likely sold as part of a family estate though we do have a photograph of it and one can tell it is the brush work of Dassel. JNLF
By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger June 9, 2025
After several yes’s and then several no’s, not going to have time, we have indeed received the final layer of asphalt on Vestal Street. This goes back to last March and April when we finally had our sewer and waterlines replaced. While I am all about preservation, 1903 piping is a bit old and tired and filled with tree roots to make the passage of sewer sludge quick and easy. While we still await some fixes to curbing – we have our original concrete curbs from 1946/1947 when Vestal Street was first paved – it was dirt until then! – some of them have been buried by time and just need some suavity to pull them up and get them back where they go. Thank you to the Town, N&M, and Victor Braden for completing the work thus far. But, with the paving completed, we may possible begin the replacement of some of our picket fencing and we have permission to restore our fences to what originally existed along the street in the 1920s and earlier – the rail was a rolled, thick top – and we are excited to use some grant funding to make that happen. Stay tuned! JNLF
June 6, 2025
NANTUCKET, MA—The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) announces that it will host Darren Humphreys, founder and CEO of Travel Sommelier , for an inspiring conversation about the science of transformative travel. Discover how his award-winning boutique travel company crafts seamless, one-of-a-kind itineraries to some of the world’s most captivating destinations—each experience tailored with precision, passion, and purpose. After a successful career on Wall Street, Humphreys followed his true calling and founded Travel Sommelier, fueled by a deep-rooted wanderlust and a desire to share the power of meaningful travel. He takes pride in curating journeys that do more than check boxes—they change lives. Humphreys strongly believes in having fun along the way and finds gratitude in finding close friendships among his trusted partners and curious clients. Having explored over ninety countries across every continent, Humphreys continues to find magic in every destination—immersing himself in new cultures, complex histories, and unforgettable culinary and wine experiences. From introducing travelers to his native South Africa to uncovering hidden gems around the globe, he invites you to see the world through a richer, more personal lens. Join him and his team as they reveal the thoughtful process behind Travel Sommelier’s approach—and prepare to be inspired. When Humphreys is not traveling, he resides in Duxbury, a seaside town in Massachusetts with his wife Caitlin, his two energetic boys, and his sweet black lab. This presentation is free and held on Zoom. Pre-registration is required. Pre-registration is required. To register for this event, please follow the link below: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZodpUFoVT-2uqVG4U_TqjQ#/registration About the Maria Mitchell Association: The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ###
Show More