It seems obvious but fire was important to families in Lexington District in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Besides cooking and keeping them warm in winter, fire was used to make soap, smoke pork, clean clothes and by blacksmiths to fashion metal objects.

Keeping the woodshed full of oak and hickory firewood was an important job performed by male children or the enslaved.

Fire could prove dangerous as many farm buildings were wooden with wood shingles.

Children suffered burns from fires, too.

Kitchen were separated from homes to prevent fires, were closed and kept dark.

JR Fennell is Lexington County Museum director.