Air Conditioning in the 1930's

On a day like today when the temperature headed into the 30's you wonder how people used to cope without air conditioning. In Lois' family home, a steep set of stairs out of the kitchen led to a small second floor landing. The bedroom on the right was for the boys; the one on the left was for the girls. The rooms were small with slanted ceilings. There was no attic to act as a barrier to the hot summer air. On nights such as the one we are presently experiencing, Lois' mother would fill a pail with cold water and dab the window sill in each bedroom with water. The movement of air across the cold water would create a cooling sensation. A primative form of air conditioning.