As temperatures soar to triple digits this week, here are a few items that Arizonans from the past used to take the edge off the blistering heat. On the left is a 1920s ice cream storage container and recipe book, which would no doubt make a cool treat! In the middle is an 'Arctic Circle & Air Coolers' fan. While electricity was around in 1945, hand-held fans were still a useful way to help beat the heat and keep cool. On the right is an electric desk fan that started to become prominent in Arizona during the 1890s. Unfortunately, electric power was not always available.
AHS Collections left to right: T96.8.1, T80.48.15, T91.29, TX4839
