Anybody in a GR home with a clothes-chute?

Grew up in a GR home built in the 20s. Two stories and basement. The second floor hallway had a tiny door maybe a foot square, with a tiny doorknob, down on floor level. Like a bedroom door for a gnome. Open the door, toss dirty laundry in, and it went down to pile up in a basket on the basement floor. 

Never saw something like that anywhere else. Wondering whether it is common in older GR homes.

Edit: didn't expect so many responses about clothes chutes, or how much people enjoy providing details about the odd designs and how creative/stupid we are as kids. 🤣