The original Alexa Welcome back to Period Dramas, a weekly column that alternates between rounding up historic homes on the market and answering questions we?ve always had about older structures.
From Apple HomeKit to Google Home and the Amazon Echo, modern tech companies are constantly trying to reinvent the way that we relate to our home, with the ultimate aim of making our lives more convenient.
But?to be honest?this isn?t anything new. For centuries, people have been inventing new gadgets to make their lives easier, especially at home. We?ll be taking a look at three such innovations today, each of which emerged at the turn of the 20th century.
This is by no means a look at every innovation that cropped up at the turn of the 20th century; it?s merely a peek into some of the most impactful, popular, and quirky systems and gadgets. Want to know about something else" Leave a comment below and let us know. Dumbwaiters
Let?s begin with an invention that was employed everywhere from grand mansions to tenement buildings: the dumbwaiter.

While its origins are a little murky, one thing is certain: Thomas Jefferson helped to introduce the early dumbwaiter to America in the late 18th century.
When we think of dumbwaiters, we envision something resembling a small freight elevator. It moves between floors of a house to cart things like food and other supplies around. However, early versions of the dumbwaiter were quite different.
Popularized in France and England,...