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As a writer of historic fiction, I understood how much we can learn, or at least infer, from things of the past. Unusual antique items now redundant can leave us puzzled. Antiques can also be admired for the detailed work in their construction.

Homes built a hundred years ago and more also tell stories. Woodwork plays a larger role in older homes; wider and, generally, darker in colour. I believe intricate moldings around a home told visitors that the homeowners were people of means.

Beyond the visible impact of trim and decor, homes can actually help us to understand the lifestyle of it's residents.

This became clear to me when I recently had an opportunity to tour a heritage home that is under renovation. The homeowners are holding fast to the many unique features of the original structure, making their work even more challenging. Since I share their appreciation for the old, I admire their determination. 

We can learn much about the past from the old houses around us. One feature in this home was something I had never seen before. Under the dining table, a button had been installed into the original floor. The purpose of this button was to summon staff from the kitchen to clear the table or bring the next course. 

Since the kitchen is beside the dining room, within voice range, this feature speaks to a level of social class unimaginable to us in 2025. As the ad points out “nothing has ever been invented that meets the wants of the people as they (the buttons) do.”