NIAGARA, Wis. — I am sure you have heard the statement, “They don’t make them like they used to.” You may have even said it yourself as you grumbled about the cheaply built items that seem to be a staple of our disposable lifestyles today. Or perhaps it was a wistful reflection on how many parts of daily life have changed since you were a kid. 

Old houses in particular can be full of reminders of how life once looked. My husband and I are both fans of older homes. We both grew up in them as kids. His parents bought the family dairy after it was no longer a dairy. And I lived in many different rental houses through my growing up years. My hometown was filled with many stately homes, and my best girlfriend lived in a couple of them with “butler stairs” that went up from the kitchen, large pantries and beautiful staircases.

Over the years, some of the features found in these older homes have disappeared as lifestyles and habits have changed and technology and tastes have evolved. I found an article recently that outlines seven of them; see if any are familiar to you —

— Laundry chutes: For generations of kids, a laundry chute was less about dirty socks and more about fun. Who didn’t dream of sliding or sending toys down one like a secret passage? For the people in charge of the household chores, though, they were the ultimate convenience. Laundry chutes first appeared in the United States sometime around the late 1800s. They were inspired by similar systems in wealthy Victorian-era homes in England, which were an evolution of industrial chutes used for mail and coal. 

While laundry chutes were initially common only in upper-class houses with staff, by the 1930s, they had become a beloved fixture of middle-class homes, too. But by the mid-1960s, their popularity was on the decline. Rising construction costs in the 1970s further pushed builders to cut out extras, and as modern washers and dryers migrated upstairs into their own rooms, the need for basement-bound chutes all but disappeared. 

— Intercom systems: They may seem quaint now compared to sophisticated smart home systems, but there was a time when built-in intercoms came in handy. As postwar suburban homes grew bigger in the 1950s and 1960s, families could use them to communicate with each other from different parts of the house. A voice from the kitchen would announce dinner, remind someone to take out the trash, or check who was home — all without anyone leaving their room. The novelty of intercoms didn’t last long, and by the 1980s, some major intercom manufacturers such as GE had ceased making them. 

— Milk doors: In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a little door on the side of the house was a common sight on many American homes, but it wasn’t a mailbox or a pet door. These built-in compartments, which usually had two doors, one on the outside and one on the inside of the compartment, were for milk. This was during a time when milkmen delivered glass bottles of fresh milk to the home. The milk doors were a receptacle for new bottles, and a place for families to return empty ones and leave the milkman’s payment. 

Milk delivery continued for decades but by the 1960s and 1970s, it was competing with a new reality. Suburban sprawl made delivery routes longer and more costly, supermarkets offered cheaper one-stop shopping, and refrigerators became standard in nearly every home. Daily milk delivery was no longer needed, and any remaining milk doors became symbolic of a time now gone.

— Razor blade disposals: One of the apartments we rented in the early years of our marriage — actually the lower level of a big older home in Beaver Dam — had one of these. Prior to the early 20th century, men would need to visit the barber for a fresh shave, since doing so at home was considered too risky. But thanks to the invention of the safety razor in 1904, at-home shaving became the norm. While this was a major leap forward in convenience, the disposable razor blades were a nuisance when it came time to throw them out. Too sharp for the regular trash, they were instead placed into the wall. Small openings were incorporated into the back of medicine cabinets or in the walls above sinks. Once the blades went in, they didn’t come out. They often stayed inside the walls, accumulating until someone decided to renovate somewhere down the line. Imagine their surprise! By the mid-1970s, fully disposable razors with the blade built right into them became the norm, and these strange little slots went out of style.

— Popcorn ceilings: Popcorn ceilings were once everywhere. This finish first became popular in the 1950s, when postwar homes were being built quickly and cheaply to accommodate booming populations. Construction crews appreciated the ease and affordability of the ceiling style, since it didn’t require sanding or finishing multiple layers, and homeowners liked that it hid imperfections and even provided some minor soundproofing. This type of ceiling finish was the norm for nearly 30 years, but you likely won’t see them in homes built after 1980. It was found that the early formulations of the spray-on mixture often contained asbestos, which, as we know today is a health hazard. If you miss them, you may also miss shag carpets and avocado-green kitchen appliances.

— Phone nooks: Before cellphones and even cordless home phones, the household telephone typically stayed in one spot. In the early 20th century, to make room for this emerging technology, homes were sometimes built with a dedicated phone nook (also called a phone niche). These small, recessed wall spaces were usually found in a hallway or near the stairs. They often had a compact shelf for a heavy rotary phone, a recessed shelf underneath that held the phone book, along with space for a small seat to tuck underneath. 

If the house wasn’t built with a phone nook, cabinets could be ordered from catalogs such as Sears and installed anywhere homeowners desired. But as phones became smaller, lighter, and eventually mobile, there was no longer a need to anchor them to a single place. Today, the phone nooks that remain are often used as storage for items such as mail, keys, knick-knacks, and houseplants.

— Fold-out ironing boards: Ironing was once a more frequent chore for many households, so having a simple setup was helpful. Enter the fold-out ironing board. It was a shallow, built-in cabinet, often in the kitchen, that concealed a board that could be pulled down when needed. This space-saving design choice was common in 1920s homes, along with Murphy beds and phone nooks. My mother-in-law had one of these that became a storage cupboard for canned goods. Of course, ironing boards still exist, but are generally stored within the laundry room. And, as fabrics became easier to launder and wear without wrinkling and everyday clothing became less formal, the amount of regular ironing has greatly diminished. Consequently, the need for ironing boards has greatly declined.

As time goes by, and more inventions enter the home to make our lives easier, it will be interesting to see what “modern conveniences” of today will become the next relics of the past.

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NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

The center welcomes anyone who would like to entertain residents. Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

The third Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. has a Memory Cafe – a fun hour to spend with others. For more information, contact Jaime Hathaway at jlhathaway@protonmail.com. The program runs on donations.

Sunday: Play games in dining room, 10 a.m.; work on weekend packets, 7 p.m.

Monday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; dice club, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; nail spa, 10 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; Bible study, 10 a.m.; chair work out, 10:30 a.m.; crafts, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Walking club, 9:30 a.m.; horse race, 10 a.m.; crafts, 1:30 p.m.; bunny/dog visit, 2 p.m.

Friday: Decorating the dining room, 10 a.m.; Woodland Elementary trick-or-treaters, 2 p.m.; Norma’s party, 3 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzle packet, 10 a.m.; “The Wall” on Game Show Network channel, 7 p.m.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; trivia, 9:30 a.m.; chair exercise, 10:45 a.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.

Monday: Costume preparation, 9 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Sunshine Club, 2:30 p.m.; reminisce, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Just friends, 9 a.m.; Iron River Bible Church, 10 a.m.; balloon toss, 10:45 a.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; ghost stories, 2 p.m.; spooky movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Costume party, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; mystery ride, 1 p.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; reminisce, 2 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; travel film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour with Jim, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Costume preparation, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; employee costume parade, 1 p.m.; Halloween party fun with Bob Larson, 2 p.m.

Saturday: No information available.

Optalis Healthcare

Kingsford

906-774-4805

Sunday: Sunday devotional, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; movie/games, 1 p.m.

Monday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; black cat day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; desserts and conversations, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; National Chocolate Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; coloring club, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; spooky stories, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; desserts and conversations, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday: Coffee time, 9:30 a.m.; National Candy Corn Day, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Scattegories, 2 p.m.

Friday: Coffee time, 9 a.m.; trick-or-treaters, 10 a.m.; more trick-or-treaters, 1 p.m.; Halloween bingo, 2 pm.

Saturday: No information available.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Families are allowed to attend activities and are encouraged to join in.

Sunday: October conversation pieces, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; howling good movie and popcorn, 1:30 p.m.; church service, 2:30 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; pumpkin carving, 2 p.m.; Baptist Church family singalong, 5 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; Protestant service, 10 a.m.; catch a phrase, 10:15 a.m.; bowling, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion service, 9 a.m.; help your neighbor, 10 a.m.; jokereno, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Thursday: Rosary, 9 a.m.; Catholic Mass, 9:30 a.m.; mystery Hedbanz, 10 a.m.; board games, 2 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.; trick-or-treat, 4 to 6 p.m.

Friday: Scary stories, 10 a.m.; ghoul’s hour with Ray and Mindy, 2 p.m.

Saturday: No information available.

Northshore Healthcare

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

No information available.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; trivia and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Bunco, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:15 a.m.; church services, 1:30 p.m.; Sunday funday, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday night football, 7 p.m.; coloring pages; daily chronicles.

Monday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; “You be the Judge,” 11 a.m.; manicure Monday, 2 p.m.; Bible studies, 3 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; Monday night football, 6:45 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Tuesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; open room, 9:30 a.m.; juice hour/who-what-where, 11 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Bethany Gets Booed, 4 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Wednesday: Morning visits and reality orientation; Halloween Pictionary, 11 a.m.; matinee movie, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” 1:45 p.m.; Bologna, 4 p.m.; lunch outing, daily chronicles.

Thursday: Morning visits and reality orientation; bingo, 10:30 a.m.; bunco, 2 p.m.; drama club/theater, 3 p.m.; table talk, 4 p.m.; Thursday night football, 7 p.m.; daily chronicles.

Friday: Morning visits and reality orientation; trick-or-treating, 10 a.m.; Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; nothing rhymes with orange, 11:15 a. m.; mid-day dreary masquerade, 2 p.m.; book club, 4 p.m.; Friday night movie “The Unforgivable,” rated R, 6 p.m.; daily chronicles

Saturday: No information available .

SENIOR CENTERS

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Brats, corn, macaroni and cheese, pudding.

Wednesday: Lasagna, green beans, garlic bread.

Thursday: Chicken and wild rice casserole, broccoli, biscuit.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Dine-in eating Monday through Thursday at 11:30 a.m., salad bar at 11 a.m. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Menu for the week —

Monday: Baked pork chop, mashed sweet potatoes, peas and carrots, biscuit.

Tuesday: Oven-fried fish and chips, tartar sauce, green beans, pudding.

Wednesday: Cheese ravioli with meat sauce, Italian vegetables, garlic bread.

Thursday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, candied carrots, biscuit.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Easton Anderson

Assistant Cooks: Debbie Bigalke (Mondays) and Jess Anderson (Tuesdays/Wednesdays)

906-875-6709

The center is serving meals for dine-in or takeout – call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or place an order. All food purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. – call ahead and leave a message with a phone number. Deliveries to homebound citizens only. Menu for the week —

Monday: Pizza.

Tuesday: Baked chicken, baked potatoes.

Wednesday: Lasagna, garlic bread.

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256 ext. 230 or 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Chicken bacon ranch, parslied noodles, peas, biscuit.

Tuesday: Tater tot casserole, corn, biscuit.

Wednesday: Sloppy Joe with a bun, macaroni and cheese, potato wedges.

Thursday: Lasagna, green beans, garlic bread, Jell-O.

Friday: Chicken and wild rice casserole, broccoli, biscuit.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Les Artistes art club, noon to 3 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting at 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards — Pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m.; cards cost 25 cents with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; board games, 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday: Cards — Smear, noon to 4 p.m.; chess, noon.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Head cook: Joan Wickman 906-246-3559

Program president: Lisa Casey 906-282-7899.

Salad bar opens at 11 a.m., with the meal at 11:30 a.m. and dessert to follow. Evening meal is served every third Wednesday of the month, with sponsored activities. Takeout meals are available. Delivery offered to homebound residents within Felch, West Branch and Breen townships.

Monday: Tuna salad sandwich, soup.

Tuesday: Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy.

Wednesday: Chicken chop suey, rice.

Aging and Disability Resource Center

Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Menu for the week —

Monday: Boiled dinner (ham, carrots, cabbage, rutabagas, potatoes), breadsticks, fruit, cookies.

Tuesday: Sloppy Joes, baked beans, oven-roasted potatoes, fruit.

Wednesday: Beef stew, biscuits, fruit, cookies.

Thursday: Homemade pizza, dark green salad, fruit.

Friday: Happy Halloween menu – Spook-etti with meat sauce, spinach cranberry salad, vampire’s garlic bread, poison apple pie.

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.

Aurora-Hillcrest Dining Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Florence Community Center

Serving at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Fence Town Hall

Serving at noon Wednesday only. For reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Tipler Town Hall

Serving at noon on second Thursday only. For reservations, call 715-528-4261.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals-On-Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Beef steak with gravy, au gratin potatoes, vegetable, fruit cup, whole wheat bread.

Tuesday: Bourbon chicken, brown rice, California vegetables, wax beans, diced peaches.

Wednesday: Smothered pork chop, garlic mashed potatoes, corn, whole wheat dinner roll, peach dump cake.

Thursday: Minestrone soup, turkey and Swiss on whole wheat bread, cucumber and corn salad, tropical fruit.

Friday: Beef goulash, root vegetable blend, warm applesauce, whole wheat breadstick, pumpkin pie pudding.

Milk available at all meals.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Salad bar opens at 11:30 a.m., with the meal served at noon a.m. No night meals are available. Meals can be prepared for carryout.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Chicken bacon ranch, parslied noodles, peas, biscuit.

Tuesday: Cheeseburger, french fries, baked beans.

Wednesday: Taco beef and noodle skillet, fiesta corn, cornbread.

Thursday: Meatloaf, baked potato, candied carrots, dinner roll, pudding.

All meals are served with choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Niagara Senior Center/Cafe

715-251-1603

Dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation for the meal is $5 for those older than 60 and $11 for 60 and younger. Bingo is played on most Wednesdays. Transportation to the meal site is available.

Tuesday: Beef stroganoff, noodles, corn, creamy cucumbers, warm applesauce.

Wednesday: Halloween party — Ghoulash, eye of newt (Brussel sprouts), wheat roll, boo-berry crisp.

Thursday: Boiled dinner with ham, potatoes, carrots and cabbage, wheat bread, mixed fruit.

Bingo on Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

Norway Center

Director: Alicia Rochon

906-563-8716

Dine-in eating begins at 11:30 a.m. Salad bar available from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Takeout meals are available for pick-up from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m. Those attending should let staff know in advance if planning to dine in or picking up the meal.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Ham and scalloped potatoes, biscuit, broccoli.

Tuesday: Pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, applesauce.

Wednesday: Chef salad (with chicken, ham and egg), ham and Swiss sliders, Mandarin oranges, cookies.

Thursday: Tacos, refried beans, Spanish rice.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month — Book club at 9 a.m.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Dine-in meals served. Salad bar opens at 11 a.m. and meal is served at 11:30 a.m. Carryout meals also available. Dine-in meal is $5, take out is $6. Reservations are required. Call 906-542-3273 and specify if you want to dine in or take out. Come and enjoy a meal with us — all are welcome — any age. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Shepherd’s pie.

Wednesday: Chicken and spaghetti.

Thursday: Spanish rice.