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What Was Life Like 100 Years Ago?

1/23/2016

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History is remarkable and interesting.
Let's hope we can learn from it and make life
​better for all.

PictureBrooklyn, 1916 (Image credit: Library of Congress)



​



Posted by Esther on January 7th, 2016 on MyHeritage blog


No matter how much we learn about our ancestors as individuals, it's hard to picture what their lives were like back then. What were their struggles and challenges?

​What were their daily routines? Was life simpler for them?
​
A theatre troup in Del Tura, Florida compiled a list of what life was like 100 years ago. After viewing that list, it's amazing to think just how much has changed over time.

PictureEiffel Tower
​Some of our favorites in that list:
  • Average life expectancy for men was 47.
  • Fuel for cars was only sold in drug stores.
  • Only 14 percent of homes had a bathtub.
  • Only 8 percent of homes had a telephone.
  • The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
  • The average US worker made between $200-$400 each  year.
  • More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.
  • Sugar was 4 cents a pound, eggs were 14 cents a dozen, coffee was 15 cents a pound.
  • Most women washed their hair only once a month, using Borax or egg yolks.
  • The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was only 30.
  • Crossword puzzles, canned beer and iced tea had not yet been invented.
  • There was neither a Mother’s Day nor a Father’s Day.
These are fascinating details about how our ancestors lived, giving us a small window into their lives. 

What do you think life will be like 100 years from today?

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