A lump of coal in a Christmas stocking would have been a treasured gift.
Trying to stay warm.

Coal suppliers in Bennington were delivering coal to their customers sparingly on this day in 1912. There had been six consecutive weeks of extremely cold weather, creating a coal shortage.

Though coal is not a common heating fuel source today, that wasn't the case in 1912. People from smaller, surrounding towns were driving to Bennington to find coal. Companies still delivering would only supply quarter-ton lots, in an attempt to allocate available supplies fairly to all customers.

In Manchester, coal was so scarce, there was no heat to hold Sunday services and the library was closed.

Image courtesy the Vermont Historical Society.

February Archives | February 15