I’m old-—I remember shoveling in the coal,opening he bottom door,shaking down the ashes and shoveling them out,and turning the dampers until we had plenty of steam heat in our apartment.
Them I turned the dampers back and shut the bottom door.
We lived in the 3rd floor and the furnace and coal bin were in the basement.Lots of stair climbing
I was a 10 year old girl when I started doing this.
I am quite spoiled now.:-)
.