This photo draws me in. The feelings I get every time I look at it are visceral. You feel the heat radiating from the coal stove. You can smell The scent of stale cigar and pipe smoke and coal hang in the air. You can hear the hollow scrape of chairs across the floor and the quiet echo of the regulator clock punctuated by the rumble of a slow freight passing by...

Anyone else notice the clasped hands resting on a blue leg, just behind and to the left of the stove? Or the melted snow about the feet of the gent sitting on the padded bench by the wall.

A marvelous glimpse into the past.

This is a beautiful, evocative photograph; one of the few color pictures posted here that really speak to me.

Chase & Sanborn have always been one company. In 1938 they began the "Chase & Sanborn Hour" initially with Mae West, and later with Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, and searching eBay (those people have everything!) reveals an 1898 ad for "Seal Brand Coffee" produced by the Chase & Sanborn Coffee Company.

It's SANBORN coffee. Chase joined Sanborn later. - SGL

Look in the coffee can on the right...it looks like the yardmaster may be heating up a little toddy to warm where the stove can't.

Used to put an empty can full of water on top of the stove in winter to provide moisture. Houses are sealed up pretty tight these days, moisture tends to stay inside. In the old days things would dry up pretty good indoors once it got cold out side. Hence the can on the stove.

Old timers used to rely on frost to seal up air leaks to the outside from the inside. Moist air would provide a faster seal. It would also provide a "warmer" heat.

It was the first thing that appeared on top of my wood burner when I first set it up. An old neighbour grabbed a Folgers tin and plopped it, half full of water, onto my hot stove. "To keep the house from drying up, and to make it warmer."

By the looks on the yardmasters shoes (a great shine) he must not have gotten out in the yard a lot. Love the pix.

…coffee in the tin on top of the stove. Looks like it would be Chase & Sanborn brand.

Why can't they bring Kodachrome back?...please?!?!

[Kodachrome is still around, at least in the 35mm size. - Dave]

SERVE IN SILENCE!

When you hear something pertaining to the war or ANY of its phases from someone supposedly "in the know", they should be severely reprimanded for divulging information regardless of its value, importance or authenticity. And don't repeat it!

"The Axis Rats" are ever on the alert, even though you are among friends you can be overheard.

The very next time some BIG MOUTH spouts about how things are going on all fronts, shut him up! If he can run this war let him offer his services to our GOVERNMENT.

They'll give him a GUN.