Soda jerks once served up fizzy drinks across America. That job has mostly disappeared. What other once-ordinary jobs have been lost to time?

Pin setter

Modern bowling alleys use machines to replace knocked-down pins. But before machines, bowling alleys hired teenagers. These “pin setters” placed pins by hand. Just watch out for incoming balls!

Milkman

The milk in your fridge probably came from a grocery store. But until the mid-1900s, most folks had milk delivered to their doors. A milkman would bring it from a nearby dairy. Milkmen helped connect communities with local farmers.

Sluggard waker

Did you ever fall asleep in church? So did some churchgoers in the 18th century. Churches would hire “sluggard wakers” to poke or tap sleepers with a wooden stick. Try snoozing through that!

Computer

When you think “computer,” you probably think “machine.” But until the 1970s, “computer” was a job. These people—usually women—solved complicated math problems. Often, they worked in teams to catch mistakes. Human computers helped launch NASA’s first Moon missions.

Aircraft Listener

How did armies spot enemy planes before radar? They used their ears! Aircraft listeners used huge horn-like contraptions to listen for incoming planes.

Alarm Clock

Need a wake up call? You’ll probably set an alarm clock. But what if those didn’t exist yet? In the 19th century, people hired human alarm clocks. These workers knocked on windows and doors with wooden sticks. Sometimes they used pea shooters.

Many of these jobs connected people with their communities. But most have been replaced by new technology. Should any of these old-fashioned jobs make a comeback? If so, in what form? We would love to hear your ideas! Email us at WORLDkidseditor@wng.org.