The History of Black Inventors in HVAC and Plumbing

At Burris and Sons, we believe that understanding the history of our craft makes us better at it. As a third generation Black owned plumbing and HVAC business, we take special pride in the contributions of Black inventors who helped build the foundation of our industry. These innovators created technologies that millions of people use every day without knowing who made them possible.

This is their story, and it is part of our story too.

Alice Parker: The Mother of Central Heating

In 1919, Alice Parker of Morristown, New Jersey was awarded U.S. Patent #1,325,905 for a natural gas powered central heating system. Before Parker's invention, most homes relied on fireplaces or wood burning stoves for warmth, which were inefficient, dangerous, and unable to heat an entire home evenly. Parker's design used natural gas as fuel and included individually controlled air ducts that could direct warm air to different parts of a building.

Parker's concept was revolutionary. While her exact design was never manufactured due to safety concerns about unregulated gas flow (safety technology had not yet caught up to her vision), her fundamental idea became the basis for the modern central heating systems that keep every home in Chicago warm through winter. Every time you adjust your thermostat, you are building on Alice Parker's innovation.

Think about what that means for our city. Without the principles Alice Parker established, Chicago's brutal winters would be far more dangerous. The central heating systems we install and maintain every day trace their lineage directly back to her 1919 patent.

Fredrick McKinley Jones: Refrigeration Pioneer

Fredrick McKinley Jones transformed the world with his portable refrigeration unit, patented in 1940. Before Jones's invention, transporting perishable food and medical supplies over long distances was extremely difficult. Food spoiled. Medicine degraded. People in remote areas had limited access to fresh produce and temperature sensitive medications.

Jones designed a refrigeration unit small enough to mount on a truck, allowing perishable goods to be transported safely across the country. He co-founded Thermo King Corporation, which became a global leader in transport refrigeration. Over his career, Jones was awarded more than 60 patents, including innovations in portable X-ray machines and refrigeration for military field hospitals during World War II.

Jones's work in refrigeration technology directly influenced the development of modern air conditioning and HVAC systems. The principles of portable, mechanical cooling that he pioneered are embedded in the AC units we install and repair across Chicago every summer.

Thomas Elkins: Refrigeration Innovator

Thomas Elkins, an inventor and abolitionist from the 19th century, received a patent in 1879 for an improved refrigerating apparatus. Elkins designed a chamber that could cool air and preserve food without relying on large quantities of ice, which was expensive and impractical for most families. His refrigeration improvements helped make food preservation more accessible and affordable.

Elkins was a versatile inventor who held multiple patents across different fields. His work in refrigeration contributed to the broader development of cooling technology that eventually led to residential air conditioning. As a Black inventor working in the post Civil War era, Elkins overcame enormous obstacles to contribute to American innovation.

John Standard: Improving the Refrigerator

John Standard received a patent in 1891 for an improved refrigerator design that used a manually filled ice chamber to cool provisions. While earlier refrigerators existed, Standard's design improved upon them with more efficient insulation and a better layout for maintaining cold temperatures. His improvements made refrigerators more practical for everyday household use.

Standard also held patents for other inventions, including an improved oil stove design. His contributions to household cooling technology are part of the direct lineage that connects early refrigeration to the modern HVAC systems we work with today.

Why This History Matters

These inventors, and many others whose names have been lost to history, made fundamental contributions to the technology that keeps our homes comfortable, our food safe, and our families healthy. Their innovations did not just improve the plumbing and HVAC industry. They changed how human beings live.

At Burris and Sons, we carry their legacy forward every day. When we install a heating system, we are building on Alice Parker's vision. When we service an air conditioning unit, we are working with technology that Fredrick Jones helped create. When we maintain refrigeration equipment, we are connected to the innovations of Thomas Elkins and John Standard.

As a Black owned business that has served Chicago since 1917, we see ourselves as part of this tradition: Black professionals contributing to the infrastructure that makes modern life possible. We take that responsibility seriously.

Ebony Service Is Beautiful

Our motto, "Ebony Service Is Beautiful," is more than a slogan. It is a commitment to excellence that honors the Black inventors, tradespeople, and business owners who came before us. Every job we do carries their legacy. We are proud of that.

To learn more about these inventors and to see our commitment to honoring this history, visit us at 7850 S Colfax Ave in South Shore or call 773-375-4123.