It is becoming a fading generation that recalls life without air conditioning. The old church was no exception. Many Oaklanders remember those days. Not only was the church not air conditioned, but most everyone attending the church returned to their naturally cooled homes. I recall those days where at night you stuck your nose into a window just to breath a hint of a breeze, or sleeping on the floor in front of a fan.
Going to church was somewhat of a challenge in more ways than one. First, there was the tradition of dressing your best for church. For men it meant having to endure the heat dressed in a sport jacket and tie. I recall the liberal trend in our church as men took off the jackets. Even the pastor. After a few years, the dress shirts were replaced by looser fitting shirts.
How the church dealt with the heat is covered in some detail in Dust In the Wind. One of the tools for cool were the numerous fans found in the church pews. Over the years, many of these have been collected or simply re-appeared in the trunks and drawers of loved ones who have passed on.
As you can see from this selection, the design of fans could vary from the simple thin cardboard on a stick to elaborate fold-out fans. They could even include fans that explicitly advertised products and services. Most likely this was permitted because the fans were free.
Two examples of fans advertising events and services.
© Copyright 2023 to Eric Niewoehner