Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - October 14, 1984
By Richard C. Tuttle
Vigo County Historical Society

Fire starter proved handy

Indians and Boy Scouts rub two sticks together in two or three ways to start fires. Flint and steel were probably used before that. The historical treasure today, after the discovery of oil and the development of kerosene, is a definite improvement.

The treasure is a fire starter, a soft porous stone at the end of a wire handle, twisted around the crevices cut in the stone. The stone was then thoroughly soaked in kerosene. It was easily lit in the kitchen stove, then placed under the logs in the fireplace in the parlor, bedroom, dining room or wherever heat was needed. The stone would burn long enough to light the rather thick logs in the fireplace.

The fire starter could also be used to light a coal-burning kitchen range or a fireplace burning coal. After being thoroughly soaked in kerosene, the porous stone wold last a long time, long enough to fire the coal or heavy logs.

Fire starters could easily have been homemade, at least until a manufacturer realized the value and started making and distributing them.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday. For more information, telephone 235-9717.