Ever wondered what kind of jobs people had in the past? While people have their fair share of unusual careers today, the jobs of yesteryear were sometimes downright strange. From tasks that technology has made obsolete to roles that just don’t make sense anymore, history is full of weird ways people once earned a living.
These odd occupations will make you grateful for modern conveniences and maybe even appreciate your current job a little more.
Lamplighter
Before electric streetlights, lamplighters would go around town lighting gas lamps at dusk. They used long poles to reach the lamps and had to brave all kinds of weather. In the morning, they’d make the rounds again to put out the flames. It was a nightly ritual that kept cities lit but became unnecessary with the rise of electric lights.
Knocker-up
Before alarm clocks were common, knocker-ups would wake people for work. They used long sticks to tap on bedroom windows or shoot peas at the glass. This job was crucial for factory workers who needed to be on time. Knocker-ups had to keep track of many clients and their different wake-up times.
Leech collector
In the past, doctors thought leeches could cure illnesses by sucking out “bad blood.” Leech collectors would wade into swamps and ponds to gather these bloodsucking worms. They often used their own legs as bait, letting leeches attach to them. It was a risky job that could lead to infections or disease.
Ratcatcher
Cities used to hire professional rat catchers to control rodent populations. These brave souls would venture into sewers and dark alleys to trap or poison rats. They sometimes used trained dogs or ferrets to help catch the pests. Rat catchers played an important role in preventing the spread of diseases.
Ice cutter
Before refrigerators, people needed ice to keep food cold. Ice cutters would cut large blocks of ice from frozen lakes in winter. They used special saws and horses to drag the heavy ice blocks. It was cold, dangerous work, but essential for ice boxes and summer ice cream.
Switchboard operator
When telephones were new, switchboard operators manually connected calls. They sat at large panels, plugging and unplugging cords to link callers. Operators had to work fast and be polite, even with rude customers. This job disappeared as phone technology advanced to automatic switching.
Town crier
Town criers were like human newspapers in medieval times. They would shout out important news and announcements in public squares. Criers had to have loud voices and good memories to share all the information. They often started their cries with “Hear ye, hear ye!” to get people’s attention.
Chimney sweep
Chimney sweeps cleaned soot from chimneys to prevent fires. They often used small children who could fit in the tight spaces. It was a dirty, dangerous job that could cause breathing problems. Modern heating systems and laws protecting child workers ended this risky profession.
Computer
Before electronic computers, “computers” were people who did math by hand. They solved complex equations for scientists and engineers. This job was often done by women who were good at math. These human computers played a big role in early space programs and other scientific work.
Resurrectionist
Resurrectionists or body snatchers, dug up fresh graves to sell corpses to medical schools. Doctors needed bodies to study anatomy, but there weren’t enough legal ways to get them. This creepy job was illegal and very unpopular with the public. It ended when laws changed to allow more body donations to science.
Gong farmer
Gong farmers had the gross job of cleaning out cesspits and privies in medieval cities. They worked at night, scooping out human waste to be used as fertilizer. The smell was so bad they had to live outside town. This smelly job went away when modern plumbing and sewage systems were invented.
Plague doctor
During outbreaks of the Black Death, plague doctors treated sick people. They wore scary bird-like masks filled with herbs to avoid catching the disease. These doctors often used weird treatments that didn’t really work. The job disappeared as we learned more about germs and how to prevent plagues.
Lector
Lectors were hired to read to workers in cigar factories. They would read newspapers, novels, and political writings out loud while people rolled cigars. This job helped educate workers and make the repetitive work less boring. Lectors lost their jobs when radios became popular in factories.
Pinsetter
Before automatic bowling alleys, pin setters would manually place the pins and return balls to players. They had to be quick and careful to avoid getting hit by flying pins or balls. It was often a job for teenagers looking to earn some money. Automatic pin-setting machines made this job obsolete.
Log driver
Log drivers guided fallen trees down rivers to sawmills. They used long poles to push logs and break up log jams. It was dangerous work, balancing on floating logs in fast-moving water. This job ended when trucks and trains became better ways to transport logs.
Matchstick maker
Making matches used to be a dangerous job done mainly by women and children. They dipped wooden sticks into chemicals that could catch fire easily. The fumes were toxic, and workers often got sick. This job went away as machines took over match production, and safety rules got better.
Toshers
Toshers were poor people who searched London’s sewers for valuables. They waded through filthy water looking for coins, jewelry, or anything they could sell. It was incredibly dirty and dangerous work. They risked disease, cave-ins, and even attacks from rats. Modern sewer systems and safety laws have eliminated this gross job.
Dog whipper
Churches in the 16th and 17th centuries employed dog whippers to keep stray dogs out during services. They used whips or wooden tongs to remove noisy or misbehaving dogs. Sometimes they also woke up sleeping parishioners. Better animal control and changing attitudes towards animals made this job unnecessary.
Sin eater
In some parts of Britain, sin eaters were paid to eat a meal over a dead person’s body. People believed this ritual would absorb the deceased’s sins, letting them enter heaven peacefully. Sin eaters were usually poor and outcasts in society. This superstitious practice died out as religious beliefs changed.
Powder monkey
On old warships, powder monkeys were usually young boys who carried gunpowder to the cannons. They had to be small and quick to run between decks during battle. It was very dangerous, with the risk of explosions or enemy fire. This job disappeared as naval warfare changed, and using child workers became unacceptable.
Lungs
Before microphones, some factories were so loud that workers couldn’t hear instructions. Lungs were people with very loud voices hired to shout instructions over the noise. They had to have strong voices to be heard all day long. It was like being a human megaphone in a very noisy place.
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