Folks in the 18th and 19th centuries rarely held nighttime activities, especially in rural America. They carried wood torches from place to place. Fireplaces were used for food preparation and domestic activities such as cleaning or reading. In larger cities, an iron basket held burning embers that illuminated the streets and walkways and were typically the homeowners' responsibility to maintain.
Rush Lights
A rushlight is a type of candle or miniature torch formed by soaking the dried pith of the rush plant in
fat or grease. For several centuries, rushlights were a common source of artificial light for the lower class in England. When the colonists settled in America, then pushed further west, they continued using the same method but with native plants. They were extremely inexpensive to make.
Candlesticks
Candlesticks came in various forms and were made from brass, pewter, tin, iron, and later glass. A familiar form included courting candles, which were used by fathers as a timer to determine the length of a suitor's visit. When the candle burned down to a specific length, the fella had to leave! Hog scraper candlesticks derived their name from a similar-looking device used to scrape bristles from a hog hide after slaughtering. Some primitive candlesticks could be as simple as an iron socketed spike driven into a piece of wood.
Candles
Tallow candles were made from rendered animal fat, typically from cattle, sheep, or hogs that were butchered in the fall. Tallow, even though it was a useful byproduct, did have its drawbacks...the foul odor that was emitted when burning, and its tendency to produce black smoke. They were also a tasty treat for mice and other rodents.
Beeswax candles were the preferred choice for the upper class in the 18th century. However, since they were taxed at eight times the rate of a tallow, not many could afford them. Beeswax candles burned cleaner, lasted longer, and had a more pleasant scent. They could be hand-dipped or poured into a mold.
Lamps
Pan lamps were used as far back as the Greeks and Romans. It consisted of an open-top metal bowl to hold the fuel, with a channel to hold the wick. In the early years of the industry, before there was electricity, the mainstay of the carnivals and traveling shows was lit by the trusty "pan lamp". These were safe and more dependable than torches or candles and were the lighting of choice for decades until electricity was made available to fairgrounds in rural America.
The "Betty lamp" was constructed of either iron, tin, or brass. By adding a cover to the top to confine the heat, it decreased the smoke and made the oil burn more effectively. Thought to be of German or Austrian origin, it came into use in 18th-century America. These lamps burned fish oil or fat trimmings and had wicks of twisted cloth. It differed from earlier oil/grease lamps in that it used an internal wick holder to eliminate the fuel drip that was common with older lamp designs. This internal wick holder feature made the Betty lamp design very popular.
Lanterns
Colonists and pioneers, known for their thrift and ingenuity, made lanterns out of materials available to them. The more popular lanterns in the 28th and mid-19th centuries were made of tin or wood. Tin lanterns, sometimes referred to as ship lanterns, were some of the earliest forms. They used boiled cow horn that was thinly shaved and made into panels to expose the light.
In 1775, a familiar four-sided tin and glass paneled design lantern was hung in the belfry of the Old North Church in Boston as Paul Revere stopped on his way to Charlestown to signal that the British were coming.
A common reproduction form of a lantern is one made of punched tin perforated outward. This design allows light to shine through while protecting the candle flame from extinguishing.
Chandeliers
The word chandelier is derived from the French "chandelle", meaning candle or candlelight, and became popular from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s in America. Constructed of wood, tin, pewter, or brass. By the mid-1800s, glass, along with lead crystal beads hanging from ornate arms, became the medium of choice for the upper class in America.
In this age of electricity, we take for granted the instant gratification of being able to flick on a switch, and our world instantaneously becomes illuminated. No dripping oil or wax to clean off the floor, no smelly scents permeating our homes. We are accustomed to having light, anytime and anyplace. The colonists and pioneers didn't have that luxury. They were, however, creative enough to adapt and develop lighting sources to extend the hours of the day.
One can truly appreciate the ingenuity and resiliency of our forefathers and how they overcame the darkness.
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There’s always one risk in life worth taking.
But life had another surprise in store for Caroline when she stepped off the train in Pine Ridge, Colorado. Instead of the new start she expected with James Murdock, her intended groom, he is nowhere to be found. With only a few coins to her name and no reason to return to Boston, she’s determined to make the best of it in this rugged land.
As the deputy sheriff in Pine Ridge, Knox Manning is haunted by a robbery gone wrong, making him question his ability to protect the town, and a stranded woman at the train depot with nowhere to go is the last thing he needs. But walking away isn’t in his nature. The badge he wears is both an anchor and a burden, one that caused him to sacrifice the one thing he always wanted—a chance for a home and a family.
Just as they begin to see each other in ways neither expected, and Knox dares to dream about a future with Caroline, the town of Pine Ridge is threatened by the same outlaws he’d been tracking for two years.
When Caroline is abducted, Knox realizes the gang had given him something worth fighting for—worth dying for, if necessary.
But more importantly, worth living for.
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