Our world has seen some pretty strange occupations come and go, and we often wonder how they ever became a thing. Let’s check out 19 outdated professions that probably shouldn’t have existed in the first place.
Human Alarm Clock
You won’t believe this, but people used to hire others to wake them up. Working as human alarm clocks, called knocker-uppers, they would tap on windows with long sticks or shoot peas at the glass. They’d make their rounds in the early hours, ensuring everyone got up for work on time, notes BBC.
Leech Collector
There was also a time when collecting leeches was a legitimate job. These brave souls would wade into swamps and ponds, letting the bloodsuckers latch onto their legs. Doctors used leeches for all sorts of treatments back then, but thankfully, medical science has moved on, and we no longer need folks risking their health to gather these slimy critters.
Rat Catcher
For those who don’t mind getting their hands dirty, rat catching was a booming business, too. People would roam the streets with traps, poisons, and even trained dogs to hunt down the rodents. While we still have pest control today, the specialized rat catcher role has mostly disappeared, thanks to better sanitation and building practices.
Lamplighter
Before electricity lit up our streets, gas lamps needed someone to manually light and extinguish them. Enter the lamplighter, armed with a long pole and a keen sense of timing. They’d make their rounds at dusk and dawn, bringing light to dark corners. This nightly ritual created a sense of comfort for many communities until electric streetlights took over.
Switchboard Operator
You’re probably aware that making a phone call wasn’t always as simple as tapping a screen. Switchboard operators had to manually connect callers by plugging in cords and were the voice you’d hear every time you wanted to reach someone. As phone technology advanced, this job became a thing of the past.
Ice Cutter
What if I told you that people harvested ice from frozen lakes and rivers? Ice cutters would brave the cold to saw through thick ice, then transport it to ice houses for storage. This dangerous job kept folks cool before electric refrigerators came along, but now, we just open the freezer without thinking twice.
Phrenologist
Interestingly enough, some people believed you could determine someone’s personality by feeling the bumps on their head. Looking back, it’s hard to imagine anyone took it seriously, but phrenologists would examine your skull and make wild predictions about your character. This pseudo-science gained popularity for a while, but it’s since been thoroughly debunked.
Town Crier
The town criers were the original news broadcasters, shouting important information in public squares, from local laws to royal decrees. Their booming voices became a familiar sound in many communities, but the need for this service quickly faded away as literacy rates improved and newspapers became more common.
Elevator Operator
Many of us have forgotten that elevators once required a skilled operator to control their movement. Uniformed staff were present in every elevator and would greet passengers, close the doors, and navigate between floors. This is another job that became obsolete as technology improved.
Computer
It’s no surprise that ‘computer’ used to be a job title for actual people. Human calculators would perform complex math by hand for science and engineering projects. Armed with slide rules and log tables, they crunched numbers all day long, but just like the others on our list, this meticulous and time-consuming job became completely unnecessary.
Lectrice
Did you know that cigar factory workers often employed professional readers? These lectrices would entertain employees by reading aloud from newspapers, novels, or political texts. Their voices carried over the sounds of tobacco processing, providing mental stimulation during repetitive tasks.
Resurrectionist
For those with a strong stomach, body snatching was actually a lucrative business. Resurrectionists would dig up recently buried bodies and sell them to medical schools for research. This grim trade arose from a shortage of cadavers for anatomical study, but changes in laws governing anatomical donations put an end to this macabre profession.
Pinsetter
Most people don’t realize that bowling alleys previously relied on human pinsetters, who manually reset pins and returned balls to players. Often, young boys looking to earn pocket money would take on this role, dodging flying pins in noisy, chaotic environments. The introduction of automatic pinsetters in the 1950s eliminated the need for this dangerous job.
Soap Boiler
If you’ve ever wondered how people got clean in the old days, soap boilers were the answer. They would combine animal fats with lye in large cauldrons, creating a pungent and hazardous work environment. As industrial soap production took over and store-bought options became readily available, local soap boilers found themselves out of work.
Typist
There was also a time when typing was a specialized skill, with professional typists churning out documents on clunky typewriters. Offices relied heavily on these typists to produce everything from memos to manuscripts. Now, most of us type our own documents without giving it a second thought.
Linotype Operator
It’s hard to imagine a time before digital typesetting, but linotype operators played a crucial role in printing. They would input text on complex keyboards, producing lines of metal type for printing presses. It was the shift to computerized typesetting that made this once-essential job obsolete, changing the face of the printing industry forever.
Mudlark
People also made a living by scavenging riverbanks. Mudlarks searched the shores of rivers, looking for anything valuable to sell. Often impoverished, these individuals waded through muck, hoping to find coins, scrap metal, or other discarded treasures.
Milkman
Remember when milk was delivered straight to your doorstep? Milkmen would make early morning rounds, leaving fresh bottles and collecting empties. The sound of clinking glass was a familiar wake-up call for many neighborhoods. While some areas still have milk delivery services, supermarkets have largely made this job unnecessary.
Chimney Sweep
The truth is, being a chimney sweep was far from the cheerful image portrayed in Mary Poppins. Soot-covered young boys would climb inside narrow chimneys to clean out dangerous buildups, a hazardous job that led to severe health issues and even deaths. Thankfully, modern heating systems and improved chimney designs mean this risky occupation is largely unnecessary in most parts of the world.
Up Next: 19 Completely False Things About America That Foreigners Think Are True
The U.S. is arguably the most famous country in the world, and people from far-off places often know our flag and president’s name! However, a lot of media coverage and exported movies mean plenty of opportunities for misunderstanding and stereotyping. Here are 19 false assumptions non-Americans often make about ‘the land of the free!’
19 Completely False Things About America That Foreigners Think Are True
20 Loyal Dog Breeds That Will Never Leave Your Side
Since early humans first fed a wolf around a campfire, dogs have been our constant companions and are renowned for making strong bonds with their owners. But which specific types of dogs make the most loyal and devoted pets? This article describes the 20 most unwaveringly loyal canine breeds and the characteristics that make them the ultimate ‘ride or die’ pets!
20 Loyal Dog Breeds That Will Never Leave Your Side
18 Reasons Older Men Say ‘Nope’ To Relationships
Older men embrace being alone and generally prefer spending time in solitude. They’ve had a full, so don’t criticize them for being less social! The following 18 reasons explain why older men prefer to be alone and are redefining how they experience their retirement years.