When wood stoves were trending in 1970s Atlantic Canada
Emerging option in home heating was linked to high cost of fuel oil
Out east, they were going back to the land — but only to find fuel to heat their homes.
"Either by manpower or horsepower, an increasing number of Atlantic Canadians are splitting wood to beat the high cost of home heating," reporter Bob Allison told viewers on The National on Dec. 10, 1979.
"It's happening so spontaneously, governments don't have any figures on how many are turning to wood."
'Airtight' stoves in demand
Allison said so-called "airtight" wood stoves had become popular, with 5,000 sold in Newfoundland alone in a single year.
The modern wood stoves were said to be more efficient than traditional fireplaces, requiring less wood and providing more heat.
There was work involved with using them, however — as homeowners had to acquire a steady supply of wood to feed those stoves through the winter.
But Allison pointed out that anyone who had a pile of wood outside their home had secured an additional advantage besides saving money on fuel oil for the winter months.
"They won't have any problems heating their homes this winter if there are any fuel oil shortages," he said.
