Built around a great central chimney, the house boasts of a fireplace in every room.  The ceilings are low for the purpose of conserving heat.  The original fireplace structure was probably taken down to the top of its foundation around 1800 to "modernize" the heating system by building Rumford fireplaces in each room.  Count Rumford, a Tory who had fled to England, developed this efficient style and everyone was "Rumfordizing" their fireplaces during this period!    The fireplace in the Keeping Room was the place where the cooking was done.  It may be seen today with its iron crane supporting heavy iron kettles hung on "S" hooks over the fire, iron "spiders" and boiling racks, heavy tin roasting oven, reflector oven, and flip toaster.  The Historical Society's collection of earthenware, woodenware and tin is also displayed in this room.   To the left of the fireplace, is the "beehive oven" where much of the baking was done.  It would originally have been located inside a larger walk-in fireplace and far more dangerous for women in their long skirts to use.