Otis Singleton
Before the intervention of electricity, people's lives were markedly different. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, electricity was not part of everyday life for many, even in the Western world. People had to find alternative methods for lighting and heating, with gas and kerosene lanterns being the primary sources of light, and wood-burning stoves providing heat. Food preservation was also a challenge, with families producing their own meat, vegetables, and fruit, and relying on iceboxes or root cellars to keep food cool. Washing clothes and bathing were also more laborious, requiring water to be heated on stoves and manually washed and rinsed. Life before electricity was undoubtedly more challenging, but some people continue to live without it, either by choice or due to a lack of access.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food preservation | Food was preserved in "refrigerators", which were iceboxes that kept food cold with blocks of ice harvested from frozen lakes |
| Food production | Farm families produced their own meat, vegetables, and fruit, purchasing only flour and sugar |
| Entertainment | Families listened to the radio, which ran on batteries |
| Lighting | Gas lanterns and kerosene lanterns were used as sources of light |
| Washing clothes | Clothes were washed by hand in a tub, scrubbed on a scrubbing board, and dried outside on clotheslines |
| Ironing | Sad irons were heated on a wood stove and used for ironing |
| Water heating | Water was heated on a wood stove and carried to a basement |
| Bathing | Bathing was done in a washtub in a room or outside in the yard |
| Hair washing | Hair was washed outside with someone pouring water over the head to wash and rinse |
| Hair drying | Hair was dried by towel drying and rolling with pin curls, without the use of a hair dryer |
| Summer cooling | People stayed cool by staying outside to catch a breeze or sleeping outside in the cooler night air |
| Winter warming | Warm clothing, bed warmers heated by a fireplace, and warmed bricks wrapped in cloth were used to stay warm |
| Farming | Horses were used for harvesting and plowing instead of tractors |
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What You'll Learn
People woke up at dawn to make the most of daylight
In the days before electricity, people's lives were dictated by the sun. Without electric light, people would wake up at dawn to make the most of the daylight hours. This early start was particularly important for farmers, who relied on daylight for harvesting and ploughing.
Before electricity, people's daily routines were very different. Without electric alarms, people would wake up naturally at sunrise or be awoken by the sounds of nature or animals. The first task of the day would be to light a fire, which would be used for warmth, cooking, and heating water for washing. In the colder months, people would warm their beds with a bed warmer heated in the fireplace or with warmed bricks wrapped in cloth.
The lack of electric lighting meant that people relied on natural light for their daily tasks. This meant that they would start their day earlier and work until sunset. During the longer days of summer, people would work longer hours, whereas in winter, the shorter days meant fewer working hours.
To make the most of the daylight, people would often work outdoors. Chores such as washing clothes would be done outside, with water carried in from a well or stream and heated over a fire. Clothes would then be scrubbed on a washboard, wrung out with a wringer, and hung on a clothesline to dry in the sun.
Mealtimes would also be dictated by the sun, with breakfast being the first meal of the day after sunrise. Food preparation would be done during the day, with meals cooked over a fire or on a wood-burning stove. In the absence of electric refrigerators, food preservation was crucial, with meat, vegetables, and fruit produced at home and preserved to last the entire year.
The intervention of electricity transformed people's daily routines, bringing light and power to homes and changing the way people worked and lived. However, before this intervention, people's lives followed the natural rhythm of the sun, with an early start at dawn to make the most of the daylight hours.
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They used candles and oil lamps for light
In the days before electricity, candles and oil lamps were the primary sources of light. These light sources were essential for illuminating homes, barns, and streets after dark, providing a circle of light in an otherwise dark room.
Candles, for example, were made of various materials, including beeswax, tallow (animal fat), and, in aristocratic homes, expensive spermaceti (the wax extracted from whale oil). The wicks of early candles required regular trimming—every ten minutes or so for wax candles and as often as forty times an hour for tallow candles. Candles were also portable, convenient, and relatively inexpensive, making them a popular choice for lighting.
Oil lamps, on the other hand, could range in size from small teacups to massive chandeliers. They were fuelled by a variety of oils, including olive, sesame, fish, nut, and plant oil. The Ancient Egyptians discovered that adding salt to their oil lamps eliminated black smoke, a problem that plagued many cultures that relied on oil lamps. Kerosene lamps, a later innovation, were used in homes and barns, providing enough light for tasks like milking cows. However, they required weekly maintenance, including refilling, wick trimming, and cleaning of the accumulated soot.
While candles and oil lamps provided light, they also had their limitations. Indoors was just as treacherous as outdoors, and in Sweden, it was common to push furniture against walls to avoid bumping into them at night. The fear of the dark was also prevalent, with the darkness associated with imaginary enemies like hobgoblins, sprites, and trolls.
The advent of gas lighting in the late 18th century brought a significant improvement in illumination. A single gas mantle emitted 12 times as much light as a candle or oil lamp and was 75% cheaper. This marked a transition towards vanquishing the darkness and reducing the fear associated with the night.
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Leisure time was scarce as chores took up most of the day
Life before the intervention of electricity was markedly different, and leisure time was scarce as daily chores took up most of the day.
Daily life was a lot more labour-intensive, and people had to be a lot more self-sufficient. For example, farm families produced their own meat, fruit, and vegetables, but food had to be preserved to last the entire year. Food preservation was a time-consuming process, with families harvesting ice in winter from frozen lakes to keep food cold in iceboxes, which could only store a small amount of food.
Washing clothes was also a much more manual and time-consuming process. Water had to be brought in from outside and heated on a wood stove before being poured into a tub for washing. Clothes were then scrubbed on a scrubbing board, wrung out, and hung outside to dry. Ironing was done with heavy sad irons that had to be reheated regularly.
Lighting was also very different, with kerosene lamps and lanterns providing a small circle of light, leaving most rooms in a farmhouse dark in the evening. These lamps had to be refilled, cleaned, and maintained weekly, which was a messy job.
Bathing was often done outside, with hair washed outside and rinsed by someone else pouring water.
Overall, life before electricity was much simpler, but it was also much more labour-intensive, leaving little time for leisure activities. Daily chores took up most of the day, and people had to be resourceful and self-sufficient to manage their daily needs.
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Children played with toys like dolls, soldiers, and hoops
Playing with toys has always been an integral part of childhood. Before the intervention of electricity, children played with toys such as dolls, soldiers, and hoops. These toys were often handmade and passed down through generations, with some toys dating back centuries.
Dolls have been a beloved toy for centuries, with the oldest known doll toy believed to be 4,000 years old. In the 1800s, tin, porcelain, and bisque-headed dolls made in factories became popular among little girls. Before this, dolls were often homemade, crafted from materials such as wood, clay, or cloth. These dolls served as a way for children to nurture and care for their toys, mimicking the roles they observed in their families.
Toy soldiers, often made from tin or lead, were another classic toy that children enjoyed before the intervention of electricity. These miniature figures allowed children to act out battles and learn about warfare. They were particularly popular during the Civil War, reflecting the societal focus on military conflicts. Tin soldiers were also a way for boys to stay informed about the European arms race and familiarize themselves with the armies of potential enemies.
Hoops were yet another popular toy before electricity. Children played a game called hoop and stick, where they tossed a small hoop from one stick to another. This game later evolved into the hula hoop, which became a global sensation. Hoops provided an opportunity for children to be active and develop their hand-eye coordination.
In addition to these toys, children's play before electricity included a variety of creative and imaginative games. They played with finger puppets, stick and ball games, marbles, and early forms of animation like zoetropes and phenakistoscopes. These toys and games not only entertained children but also helped them develop essential skills and discover their identities.
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People played musical instruments and attended fairs and blood sports
Before the intervention of electricity, people found other ways to entertain themselves. One way was through musical instruments, which were played and enjoyed without the need for electrical amplification. People played instruments such as the ondes Martenot, which creates "wavering" sounds when played with a keyboard or by moving a ring along a wire. The Trautonium, invented in 1928, was used to emulate bell or gong sounds. The first electronic rhythm machine, the Rhythmicon, was commissioned in 1930, and the first musical instrument played without touching it, the Theremin, was built and demonstrated in 1919–1920.
In addition to music, people also attended fairs and blood sports for entertainment. The 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, meant to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus' first voyage, is one notable example. Over 27 million people attended the fair, which showcased the future of electricity in America. The fair was lit by electricity, with President Grover Cleveland illuminating nearly 100,000 incandescent lamps. This display by Westinghouse and Tesla stole the show, demonstrating how electricity could reshape the nation.
Fairs and exhibitions provided a glimpse into the future, introducing innovations such as the Ferris Wheel, spray painting, and new foods like Cracker Jack, Juicy Fruit gum, Quaker Oats, and the hamburger. They also served as a platform for inventors and innovators to showcase their creations, with Edison and Westinghouse bidding to light the 1893 World's Fair.
Blood sports, though controversial, were also a form of entertainment before the intervention of electricity. While the term "blood sport" can refer to a variety of activities, it often involves violence, injury, or death to animals or humans. These sports were often attended by large crowds and were considered a form of spectacle or amusement.
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Frequently asked questions
People used root cellars to keep food at a cool, even temperature. They also preserved food by storing it in iceboxes, where blocks of ice kept the food cold. The ice was harvested in winter from frozen lakes and stored for use in spring and summer.
People would listen to the radio, which at the time ran on batteries. They also listened to popular culture stories that depicted electricity as a mysterious, quasi-magical force that could slay the living, revive the dead, or bend the laws of nature.
People would heat water on a wood stove and carry it to the basement. They would then use a washing machine that had to be manually started by venting the fumes outside. After washing the clothes, they would be hung outside to dry.
