Old style modern

These modern coloured buildings just off the centre of town show the old hoist fixtures every warehouse or commercial building used to have. It makes me think; was it just more common to move heavy stuff about in those days? Or was it more common for town to flood, so stuff was stored upstairs? Whatever it was, we don't use those hoists any more, despite lifts being fairly uncommon.

I quite like how the hoist furniture (hoist arm?) Is now used to hold a sign.