12 forgotten jobs that once existed and became obsolete

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May 12, 2026

Culture·5 min read

12 forgotten jobs that once existed and became obsolete Discover   At various points in history, people earned a living performing jobs that sound downright strange today. Folks once knocked on windows to wake strangers for work. Others spent their days resetting bowling pins by hand, lighting streetlamps at dusk, or harvesting ice from frozen rivers. Machines have certainly made life easier in many ways, but they have replaced the livelihood of many. Here’s a small handful of some forgotten jobs that were once fundamental to everyday life in America and elsewhere in the world. Read full article

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