Did you Know?
Jobs That Have Disappeared:
- Lamplighter: When roads used to be lit with oil or gas, there was a job called a lamplighter. At night, they would light the lamp posts one by one when there was only the light of the moon to work by.
- Apothecary: The apothecary was the forefather of the pharmacist. The apothecary was in charge of creating medications and medicinal beverages. They also specialized in medicinal herbs to act as remedies for illnesses.
- Harness-maker: The harness-maker was in charge of making harnesses for horses, but also braces for the animals that worked the fields.
- Boat Caulker: A boat caulker worked to caulk (fill in) the gaps around the joints of boats with tar so that they wouldn't take on water.
- Carter: Back in the day, to transport goods that arrived by boat and needed to be delivered in-land, you would get the carter (the person who drove the cart) to take care of it. A carter could make up to 20 cents a day. There were also carters who specialized in transporting people. The carter was yesterday's taxi driver or truck driver.
- Crossing gateman/gatewoman: Before the government took charge of building bridges, some people would build their own bridges and decide for themselves who could cross. Barriers were installed at either end. The crossing gateman or gatewoman (the person who worked at the barriers) were tasked with charging people a fee to cross the bridge.
- Watchman: Watchmen patrolled at night to keep citizens safe by alerting them if an emergency arose during the night. Watchmen walked the streets with a light, a rattle, and a baton to defend themselves in case of an attack. The rattle was to inform people of danger. The watchman would also announce the time every hour of the night. It was not until the 1840s that watchmen were replaced (especially in larger cities) by police officers.
- Porter: A Porter was someone who rented out their back and/or arms. Similar to the carter, a porter would transport goods on their back with straps or braces containing hooks, onto which they would hang merchandise.
