Today is June 20, 2022. I thought it would be fun to take a journey back 116 years to 1906. What has happened on this day? Travel with me and let’s have some fun and see some interesting things that took place.

Did you know during this time there were no fast-food restaurants, DVDs, or convenience foods? So, for all you fast food junkies there were no places to pop in for a quick meal.

To help pass the time coloring books, marbles, and ping-pong were available, however, baseball cards, jigsaw puzzles, roller skating, dance halls, amusement parks, and reading were also among the various forms of entertainment loved by many.

Those who fly, the Wright Brothers’ “flying machine” was awarded a US patent. C. C. Brown invented the hot fudge sundae, and J. Stuart Blackton debuted the world’s first animated film.

The world’s first air conditioner was patented by Willis Carrier, while the iconic “caterpillar” tractor was invented by Benjamin Holt, and George Washington, a musical by George Cohan, debuted on Broadway.

The earthquake and fire in San Francisco destroyed about 75% of the city. The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming became the first national monument, and approximately one-fifth of the world was dominated by the United Kingdom.

In 1906, the average life expectancy was 49 years old. The average yearly income was $500, while inflation was 2.27 percent, and unemployment was 5.9 percent.

A bathtub was found in only 14% of houses, a telephone was in 8% of houses. The average hourly wage was 22 cents. A steam-powered automobile cost $1,000 and the average annual wage was $432.

In 1900, the average home in America sold for around $5,000. I couldn’t find any information about what a house would cost in 1906. The closest I found was for 1905. In 1905, the average cost of a home in the United States was between $1,500 and $4,000.

That was the same as many professionals’ annual pay at the time.
Oh, How the times have changed.