This Strange Hook On The Porch Has A Story That’ll Take You Back In Time
August 23, 2025
source: Lynne Truax Downs/Facebook
Hidden in the woodwork of many old porches is a simple, easy-to-overlook fixture: the porch lantern hook. You might recognize one — perhaps it’s rusted, painted over or bent from decades of use — like the one in the photo at top. It appears to be a bizarrely coiled metal hook at first glance. But its purpose? A whole lot more charming than you think.
This modest piece of hardware was once an essential part of daily life. Particularly back in a time when electric porch lights and motion sensors as we know them hadn’t been invented. It held lanterns.
A Glow from the Past
For outdoor lighting, homes employed kerosene or oil lamps long before our era of modern lighting. These lanterns were commonly hung by the front door. They illuminated the entry, offered a warming glow for guests, or simply pushed back the darkness that enveloped neighborhoods at nightfall.
The porch lantern hook was attached near the door. It was convenient to reach but also positioned high enough to cast its light. On steamy summer nights, its flickering light skittered across the wood boards of the porch. Families would sit in rocking chairs drinking sweet tea or listening to the crickets.
For some, these hooks were part of a reassuring nightly routine: lighting the lantern at dusk, and carrying it back in before bed. It gave the house a pulse, a gentle pulsing that told people that somebody was home.
Not Just for Lighting
As electric lights replaced lanterns, the porch lantern hook eventually found a new purpose. Some people hung up seasonal decorations, planters, or even wind chimes. It turned into a superevent — optional, but valuable.
Yet, in homes that cling to their original allure, these hooks are a quiet echo of an easier, quieter era. For people restoring older houses, discovering one of these original hooks still intact — which they do sometimes — can feel like finding a minor relic.
A Design with Purpose
If you’re paying attention to the design — like on the one in the photo — you’ll see the twist and curve in the metal. This wasn’t just decorative. The curve aided in holding the lantern, keeping it from toppling so readily in the breeze. Some of the hooks are handmade by local blacksmiths. They differ slightly from one hook to the next.
In some parts of the country, particularly the American South and Midwest, rows of these hooks were not uncommon on porches. Especially on larger farmhouses. On holidays or special occasions lanterns would line the entire porch. They cast a warm golden glow that made the house a beacon of welcome.
Holding Onto the Warmth
Most such hooks have been forgotten and painted over many times through the years. But for the few who notice them, they are a silent reminder of how people once illuminated their homes — both purposefully and symbolically.
It wasn’t just about visibility. It was about warmth and welcome and presence. The gentle light of a lantern hung out on a hook would signal to neighbors that you were there — and encourage them to come over.