Our local power company is in the process of changing over from coal to natural gas right now.

Many old family residences had fireplaces designed to specifically burn coal. The firebox was smaller than wood burning fireplaces and had a cast iron 'grate' (a sort of basket) that held the lumps of coal while it burned and allowed the ash and cinders to fall out the bottom.


[Linked Image from columbusarchitecturalsalvage.com]