The current thread on Histarch has generated some discussion among those of
us who grew up in the 40s and 50s on the topic of burn barrels. At least
here in the New York/New Jersey area, burn barrels seem to have been an
almost universal feature of back yards. [A burn barrel was a large (about
4 feet high) metal barrel where a household would put papers and other
thrash -- and the definition of what was suitable other trash seems to vary
widely. The stuff would be burned down once a week or so and the ashes
left to accumulate until the level got too high for safe burning.]
Garbage collection was available but burn barrels were used anyway.
Municipalities started passing laws against burning garbage in the 1960s, I
think, but does anyone have any thoughts on this practice?
Meta Janowitz