If you’ve ever come across an odd little door tucked away in the corner of a room or hidden behind a wall, you’re not alone. Recently, a Reddit user shared an intriguing mystery: a small door, measuring roughly 3.5 feet by 2.5 feet, discovered in their early 1900s home. The twist? Other houses in the area also have similar doors. What could this odd feature mean, and why were so many homes built with them? Let’s delve into the possible reasons behind these quirky little doors.
What Exactly Is This Little Door?
The first thing that stands out about the mystery door is its size—just 3.5 feet by 2.5 feet, which is much smaller than a typical door. These dimensions might immediately suggest a purpose different from your standard entry or exit point. The fact that it’s also found in several nearby homes built around the same time period raises even more questions: Was it part of a common design feature, or did it serve a specific function that’s now obscure?
The Possibilities Behind the Little Door
So, what could this mysterious door have been used for in the early 1900s? There are several potential explanations, ranging from practical to architectural quirks. Let’s explore some of the most plausible reasons.
1. A “Milk Door” or Delivery Door
One of the most likely explanations for these little doors is that they were milk doors or delivery doors. In the early 1900s, many homes didn’t have refrigerators, and milk and other perishable goods were delivered daily by milkmen or local grocers. These small doors, often located on the side or back of the house, were used to allow deliveries without disturbing the household.
- How It Worked: The milkman would arrive and open the small door, leaving the delivery inside. The homeowners could then retrieve their milk, eggs, or other goods without having to interact directly with the delivery person, especially early in the morning.
- Other Uses: While the most common use was for milk, similar small doors were also used for other deliveries, like bread, newspapers, or even coal.
This idea is especially plausible given that many homes in the early 1900s were designed with convenience in mind, and such doors would have made daily life a bit easier.
2. A “Servant’s Door” or Access for Household Help
In wealthier homes built during the early 20th century, it wasn’t uncommon to have a servant’s entrance or a small door used for household staff. These doors allowed maids, cooks, or other help to enter and exit without going through the main living spaces.
- Functional Design: The door would often lead to the kitchen, pantry, or a back stairwell—areas where staff would work but would not be part of the family’s day-to-day activities. Smaller doors like these could keep the help’s presence discreet and separate from the family’s more formal living spaces.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: These doors were often designed to be functional but unobtrusive. A 3.5’ x 2.5’ door would be small enough to stay out of view but still allow access to areas of the house where daily work occurred.
3. A “Coal Door” or Access to a Basement or Cellar
In homes that were heated with coal stoves or had a coal furnace, a small door could have been installed to allow easy access to a coal bin or basement area. This design would have been especially useful for homes that required regular coal deliveries, as it would allow the coal to be dumped directly into the bin from the outside, without the need to bring it through the house.
- Practicality in Mind: The small door would have been located in a discreet part of the house, often near the kitchen or basement, to allow the coal to be delivered and stored quickly. Over time, as coal furnaces became less common, these doors were either bricked up or left unused, which might explain why they seem like oddities today.
4. Access to a “Dumbwaiter” or Small Freight Lift
Another possibility is that the small door was once part of a dumbwaiter system—a small elevator used to move food, dishes, or other items between floors. While less common than milk or servant’s doors, dumbwaiters were found in some homes, especially in larger houses or estates, to help with tasks like bringing meals up from the kitchen to the dining room.
- Practical Function: The door would have allowed easy access to the dumbwaiter from one floor to the next. After the introduction of modern electrical lifts and changes in home design, these systems became obsolete, leaving behind small, seemingly useless doors.
- Area-Specific: This kind of system would have been installed in larger homes with multiple stories, making it more likely to be found in older homes or houses in wealthier neighborhoods.
5. A Prohibition-era Access Point (Perhaps a “Speakeasy” Door)
While this theory is more speculative, some believe that these small doors could have been used for illicit purposes during Prohibition (1920-1933). In homes that might have hosted underground gatherings or speakeasies (illegal bars serving alcohol), small doors like these could have allowed easy entry and exit without alerting authorities.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: During Prohibition, people who wanted to drink legally would often hide their activities from law enforcement. A small door would be the perfect way to discreetly enter a basement or hidden area where alcohol could be consumed.
- Not Uncommon in Urban Areas: Given that many homes in the early 1900s were built in urban areas, particularly in cities where Prohibition was strictly enforced, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that these small doors were once used for these secretive purposes.
6. Architectural Quirk or Storage Access
Finally, it’s worth noting that these little doors could simply be the result of a quirky architectural choice. Early 20th-century homes were often designed with hidden or unconventional storage solutions—like attics, crawl spaces, or hidden pantries. A small door could have been designed as access to a particular nook or cranny in the house that served a storage purpose.
- Storage for Food or Household Items: Small doors like these may have provided easy access to storage areas for things like dry goods, canned food, or even wine. In some cases, such doors were also used for vaults or safes.
The Common Thread: Why Other Houses Have Them
The fact that other houses in the area also have the same small door suggests that it was a common architectural feature in homes built in that time period or within a certain neighborhood or development. It’s possible that these homes were built by the same developer or followed a similar design blueprint, with small doors being included as a standard feature.
Given that homebuilding practices were often influenced by prevailing trends and innovations, these doors may have been seen as a practical, efficient way to handle deliveries, staff, or storage. As time went on and household technologies evolved, these little doors became less relevant, but the design remained intact in many homes.
Conclusion: A Door to the Past
While the little door remains a fascinating mystery, it’s clear that its purpose is rooted in a time when homes were designed to cater to specific practical needs—whether it was for milk delivery, coal access, or discreet servant entrances. Understanding its historical context helps us appreciate how household needs and architectural practices have evolved over the past century.
So, if you come across a similar door in your own home, or if you’re living in a house with one, don’t be afraid to embrace its quirky history. It’s a glimpse into the daily life of a bygone era, and a reminder of how homes once adapted to the needs of the people who lived in them.
