LABOR, LITERATURE AND LANDMARK LECTURE SERIES

Winter 2021

Radiators and Pandemics, A Curious Marriage

With Dan Holohan, International Authority, Steam Heating and Hydronics Founder, HeatingHelp.com

An Online Lecture on Tuesday, March 2nd at 6 p.m.

When Dan Holohan was researching his book, The Lost Art of Steam Heating, in the late-1980s, he came upon a reference to The Fresh Air Movement that made him curious. He dug deeper and learned of the relationship between steam- and hot-water radiators and the 1918-19 Influenza Pandemic. Boards of Health and the Anti-tuberculosis League were demanding that windows be left partially open to help fight disease, and this changed the way we heat buildings for decades to follow. He dug deeper still and learned that disease actually inspired the very invention of the radiator before the Civil War, and that Harriet Beecher Stowe, also played a role after the war. It’s a curious marriage that radiators and pandemics have, and one that continues through this modern-day pandemic.

Dan Holohan, International Authority on Steam Heating and Hydronics, began his love affair with heating systems in 1970 by going to work for a New York-based manufacturers' representative that was deeply involved in the steam and hot-water heating business. He studied hard, prowled many basements and attics with seasoned old-timers, and paid close attention to what they had to say. Mr. Holohan founded HeatingHelp.com in 1997. His daughter, Erin Holohan Haskell, now owns and operates this extensive resource.

He is also the author of dozens of books including The Lost Art of Steam Heating and We Got Steam Heat and hundreds of magazine articles about heating systems, old and new. He was an established speaker in high demand on the seminar circuit, having taught more than 200,000 people prior to his retirement.

Suggested donation: $15 General Admission; $10 General Society Members and Senior Citizens; $5 Students.

Advance registration is required to receive the link to the Zoom Webinar Platform.

For more information, please contact karin.taylor@generalsociety.org.

www.generalsociety.org