On a single blue-collar income, no less. My father, a lineman for Ma Bell, purchased a house and 5 acres of land for $100,000 (in today's funds), and is still receiving retirement funds. He was forced to retire at 50 - a dream many of us today will never realize.
I'll reckon, any job was better 50 years ago when rent was a fraction of a salary and you could provide for a family on a single income.