Any history buff knows about the great events that have shaped our world.
- There have been wars, evil dictators, messiahs, and natural catastrophes that are all documented in scores of history books.
The Civil War is probably the most written-about battle in American history with our 16th President Abraham Lincoln as the main character. There will always be historical topics to write about, but for the Civil War and other major events, finding new content is like trying to find something undisturbed at a popular buffet near closing time. The pickings are quite thin. Fortunately for historical writers, there is a fresh smorgasbord of material with lesser-known events and people. I’m sure there is some demand for literature about Martin Van Buren or Millard Fillmore, two of the more forgettable U.S. presidents. I’ve found my history niche with the development of refrigeration and HVAC that, to me, begins with John Gorrie. The ill-fated doctor/inventor invented the first mechanical ice-making machine in 1851. Interestingly, nine years previous to the icemaker, Gorrie designed and built an air-cooling apparatus for treating yellow fever patients. It was the first known AC unit. In 1902 Willis Carrier became the “Abe Lincoln of AC history” when he introduced the first modern AC system. One little-known fact is that the term “air conditioner” was coined by American engineer Stuart Cramer in 1906. The basic concept of AC and HVAC has not changed but history will view the 1970s as a milestone. The decade saw HVAC change from an industry that focused merely on providing comfort in the home, to one that would do it with less energy and in an eco-friendly way. New HVAC-related technologies of today will certainly keep future HVAC historians busy.