Millennials Have No Clue What These Bizarre Old Home Features Were Actually For

Charlie Golsley in home living

2/13/25

This article may contain affiliate links, learn more.

Homes built decades ago came with all sorts of quirky features that once served a purpose but are now completely obsolete. While older generations might instantly recognize these relics of the past, many Millennials have no idea what they were originally used for. From hidden compartments to strange wall cutouts, here are some bizarre old home features that have left younger homeowners scratching their heads.

1. Phone Niches That Once Held the Family Landline

Many older homes, especially those built before the 1960s, have a small recessed alcove in the hallway or near the kitchen. This was a “phone niche,” specifically designed to hold the household’s rotary landline phone. The little shelf underneath was perfect for a phone book, back when you actually needed one to look up numbers.

With the rise of cell phones, these built-in features have lost their purpose. Some homeowners have repurposed them as decorative display shelves, but others remain as nostalgic relics of a time when you had to stand in one place to make a call.

2. Skeleton Key Locks That Still Exist in Some Doors

Before modern key-cutting methods became standard, many older homes used skeleton keys, which are long, thin metal keys that fit into ornate keyholes on interior doors. If you find one of these locks in an old house, chances are the original skeleton key is long gone, leaving homeowners to either replace the locks or accept the fact that some doors will remain permanently unlocked.

Some people find these locks charming and historic, while others see them as security risks. Either way, most Millennials have never had to use one in their lifetime, making them a puzzling throwback.

3. Built-In Milk Doors for Home Delivery

Before grocery stores became the go-to place for fresh milk, many homes had a small, built-in compartment in an exterior wall known as a “milk door.” This allowed the milkman to deliver fresh bottles directly into a designated area of the home, usually a small cabinet accessible from both inside and outside.

Once a staple of daily life, these milk doors have become nothing more than a quirky design feature in old homes. While some homeowners have sealed them up, others have creatively repurposed them as tiny storage cubbies or even pet doors.

4. Random Toilet and Sink in the Basement (AKA the “Pittsburgh Toilet”)

Some old homes, particularly in the Midwest, have a bizarre feature, which is a lone toilet sitting in the middle of the basement, sometimes accompanied by a basic sink but no walls for privacy. Known as the “Pittsburgh toilet,” this odd setup was originally installed for steel mill workers to use before entering the main part of the house.

These exposed toilets still exist in some homes, often confusing younger generations who have never seen such a thing. While some homeowners build walls around them to create an extra bathroom, others leave them as-is, an amusing and perplexing piece of history.

5. The Mysterious Razor Blade Slot in the Bathroom

If you’ve ever lived in an old house and noticed a strange metal slot inside the bathroom medicine cabinet, you may have wondered what it was for. Back in the day, disposable razor blades were common, but instead of throwing them in the trash, people would slide them into this tiny slot, which led directly into the wall.

Over the years, thousands of blades would accumulate inside the walls of old homes. Since there was no easy way to retrieve them, they essentially became time capsules of discarded razors, something that horrifies modern homeowners who discover them during renovations.