Outhouses made life simpler

Country Today ^ | 1-25-07 | Howard Sherpe

[CFC__VRWC]

I was born in 1964. I don't remember us ever having an outhouse at home, though I think a fairish number of rural folks had them then. I have used many an outhouse in national forests on camping trips, though.

[antivenom]

I am 48...my grandparents had an outhouse....I just shudder that I am part of the "old timers" history...YUP not only used an out house...but my grandparents would boil water and set up the "tub" for a good old fashion bath...galvanized tub that is...

[PistolPaknMama]

Oh my gosh! This brought back so many memories! My grandparents had a humble one-holer up until their carpenter-builder yunguns decides Grandma and Grandaddy needed indoor plumbing. I was reeeally small but I remember the Sears catalog, or reasonable facsimle. Could have been The State paper, although The State didn't turn communist/socialist for decades.

My parents bought some property on lake Wateree (South Carolina) and they and two other couples set up crude cabins along with a luxury fish cleaning/frying station. The other less-than-luxury "facility" was what they dubbed the Half Moon Hotel. I'll leave that as self-explanatory.

Of course you have to consider the changes from then till now. Who do you know could by lake front property, construct a crude cabin (without obtaining permits) with no running water or paved road, and even construct an out house (still no permits). Construct an out house in your own back yard and see how far you get with the homeowner's association or town council.

That begs the question: are we evolving or devolving. There was a time we could take care of our most necessary functions without permission from the government. Now somebody from the government has to inspect it first.

[B4Ranch]

I'll bet she wishes she hadn't tossed out her chamber pots.

[patton]

new venue?

[labette]

Now, the rural outhouse is a novelty item, worthy of restoration.

[labette]

Doesn't look like it hurt us any.

As for the neighbors, All four kids turned out pretty successful.

[Eaker]

Poopin' with spiders ping!

Of course what happens at Deer Camp stays at Deer Camp so I can say no more.

[festus]

Doesn't look like it hurt us any.

Didn't hurt us any ? Are you kidding ?!

Heck it turned us into right wing extremists I tell ya......

;-)

[labette]

You didn't really miss out on anything.

The atmosphere was still the same!

[labette]

LOL!

and another stereotype is born!

[spunkets]

Look first. Make sure there's no snapping turtles down there on the lookout for worms.

[SJackson]

Have you ever ready any of Pearl Swiggum's missives from 'Stump Ridge Farm?' She's a hoot!

Yes, they'd be fun to post on occasion. I can never find anything for this list. How many articles are there on outhouses. I'm going to see if they're on the web.

[Americanchild]

My grandparents farm had an outhouse when I was growing up. They had indoor bathrooms too but the old outhouse was still there. We kids used to have fun using it!Yes, we were easily amused!!! LOL!

[SJackson]

Choosing between a snapper and a snake isn't something I'd care to do. You're right, look first.

[labette]

Can you remember what you used for drinking?

Our shallow well water wasn't really very good, So we relied on a cistern.

[patton]

You should try a frozen outhouse on the klondike - Fort Greely, Alaska.

[antivenom]

No sistern...believe it or not...the city provided drinking water...it was a matter of the house being updated to handle a sewer line, and building an in house bathroom...

[girlangler]

My parents never had an outhouse, but my grandparents did, and I married a man in the 1970s whose family still used one. Our generation is probably one of the last to have that experience.

[patton]

Well, no - I own a cabin now, that is equipped with one.