In the beginning of 2025, the History Channel reality program “American Pickers” highlighted what might be termed a “smart home” from the 1930s. It provides an intriguing look not only at the progression of technology but also at the ingenuity of the homeowner in that era. Previously owned by telecommunications pioneer W.J. Moore, the residence situated in Caro, Michigan, boasts a distinctive design and arrangement. The show’s hosts referred to it as the “wizard’s castle,” labeling it “without a doubt the most customized home I’ve ever visited in America.” Most notably, it includes features that today, nearly a century later, could be recognized as early examples of the smart home concept.
Given Moore’s background in the formative periods of technological advancement, having established Moore Telephone Manufacturing Company and Moore Telephone System in the late 1800s, it’s understandable that the residence would incorporate what people of that time might have labeled high-tech innovations. Today, however, they seem basic compared to our AI-enhanced smart home environment. Nevertheless, it offers a captivating look into the past and the preliminary developments in smart management for lights, locks, even a home security system and garage door opener.
Preliminary automation
The automation of chores using fundamental smart home devices is at the heart of modern smart homes, and Moore devised an analog approach to achieve this long before this century. For instance, the carriage house, which functioned as his workshop, contains a pulley system that operates like a primitive version of an automatic garage door opener. Another pulley system was constructed for a zipline that extended over the backyard pool, enabling him to drop in from a model plane, with the homeowner sharing an image of Moore using it in the ’50s.
Within the house, there’s hardwiring that manages everything from door locks to lighting, arguably the earliest recognized form of smart lights and remotely controllable locks. Although he couldn’t rely on voice commands or applications to illuminate the lights or secure the door, he devised an intricate control panel — akin to smart control hubs or smart displays, similar to devices like the Amazon Echo Hub and tablets like the Google Pixel Tablet and Apple iPad, all of which can serve as gateways to manage smart home devices. It was designed so he could complete tasks with a simple button press. He configured what could be seen as zones with titles such as “south hall” to manage only the connected devices in that region. The family’s notes outlining instructions that Moore typed are still preserved, offering insight into how he organized everything and how it functioned at one point.
A glimpse into the future
Moore was evidently ahead of his era, extending beyond mere automation with a self-created alarm system. A clever interpretation of a smart security setup or smart alarm, it had the ability to lock doors, activate lights, and notify emergency services through a connection to his telephone line in case of a break-in. No fees or subscriptions were necessary. The control panel also included light indicators to convey the status of water pumps, an impressive alternative to push notifications and other mobile alerts for its time. Comparable indicator lights were established in other parts of the house, such as near the fireplace, so he could be aware when a door was ajar, for example. Essentially, he had his own rendition of a Ring video doorbell or smart lock application through physical, illuminating buttons.
While the devices and mechanisms in the home no longer operate, there are efforts in place to restore it to its initial condition. From a technological viewpoint, it offers a remarkable look back at how the notion of automating tasks and developing smart devices in the home isn’t as recent as we believed. The technology is certainly dwarfed by today’s advancements, but during that time, they would have been considered equally revolutionary. You can view the segment of “American Pickers” Season 23, Episode 19, on the History Channel or YouTube.