My mother had cast iron skillets that she had gotten (my grandpa made that a gift to her) and she had had them for many years. Our house burned down and of course the dast iron skillets were in the fire. However, there was no breakage, and when the ashes cooled, my grandfather (who lived a few doors down the street) dug through the ashes to get the skillets. That was back in the '50's. Those skillets were given to various family members, so it remains in the family. My mother always used those skillets to fry chicken in. She said they were the best for frying chicken.''
Jeanette