Glorifying The Outhouse
People are nostalgic for outhouses — so much so that they are decorating their bathrooms in outhouse themes and even erecting fake outhouses in their yards for storage sheds. There are a few websites devoted entirely to outhouse photos and information for those interested in outhouse lore — even some websites created by those brave souls, called outhouse diggers, who dig in abandoned holes for treasures and want to share their pictures, their stories, and their passion!
Remember These?
Outhouse photographs from the Flickr Pool: Outhouses
The first outhouse photograph is from the Harry Truman Birthplace in Lamar, Missouri. The others are random outhouse photographs taken in other locations around the US and Canada. Want to see more outhouse pix on Flickr? Go here and here.
Grandma's Outhouse
Outhouse recollections
Fond Memories?
Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I was very much used to hot and cold running water — unless we went to stay at Grandma's house. She lived out in the country on a dirt road in a house surrounded by fields of corn one year and tobacco the next.
Grandma's kitchen had a hand pump — that you had to prime — at the kitchen sink. The pump was modern plumbing for Grandma and the only "plumbing" in the five-room house.
A "real" bathroom was miles away. We took baths in the "wash tub," and we went to relieve ourselves in that dreadful outhouse. I was so afraid of it; I hated that place! Even if your bodily functions drove you to it, it still took courage to go inside! It stank to high heaven and it wasn't the kind of place where you could talk a sibling or a cousin into standing outside the door while you "went." Grandma was too old to keep it up, and it was just plain disgusting.
Years removed, I can even laugh about it. But I sure hated it then! I would like to have been able to write here about a fond memory or two of Grandma's outhouse, but there are no fond memories of it — whatsoever! Well, unless you count the happy relief I would feel when waving goodbye to Grandma through that cloud of dust from the backseat of Daddy's beloved station wagon!
The Outhouse Museum
Nostalgic for outhouses
Outhouse Preservation Society — Website for the Outhouse Museum, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada. Features Outhouse Collections, the Outhouse Wall of Fame, an Online Gift Shop and more. "Outhouse" As A Writing Prompt
A writing exercise I once did
In the Cornfield
It is a weathered little building, precariously erect. Milkweed and dog fennel grow tall and wild all around it. A little girl creeps reluctantly toward its rickety facade. Slowly, she opens the door. Flies buzz around her head as they pass out into the light then back again into the stench. Her nose wrinkles; her mouth disappears into a tight little line. She wills herself to lift a foot inward steadying herself with one hand on the dry wood of the door frame. Just then, she hears the rattled warning from a snake's tail. Her scream is mute. Barreling out into the cornfield, she stops only when she is out of air. Bending forward with her hands on her knees, she tries to catch her breath. A breeze rustles the prickly cornstalk leaves. Slowly, her breathing starts to regulate; she becomes aware of the sounds of a distant tractor and the gay squeals of her siblings at play. Her eyes soften as she takes in the green beauty all around her. Her body releases its tension. The black dirt is cool to her bare feet; its earthy smell fills her nostrils as she swings her foot across it in an arc. Then, she gets down on all fours, picks up a stick and starts digging.
There's Gold In Them Thar Holes!
Outhouse diggers
Outhouse diggers excavate long-forgotten backyard privy sites looking for artifacts. They find bottles and trash mostly, but there's always a chance for something more substantial. Outhouse diggers say that there is no bad smell, germs or bacteria — that the biological contents have become earth again. But, the work is dangerous and controversial. There have been deaths due to cave-ins, and archaeologists believe the diggers are "stealing" our past.Learn more about outhouse digging here. You'll have to scroll below the fold to see the contents.
Bobby Bare Sings His Outhouse Song
Ode to the Little Brown Shack Out Back
Wild Granny Faye
Another outhouse song
Twenty-First Century Outhouse
The Humanure
Outhouse In The Family?
Outhouse Calendars For 2009
Take your pick
Outhouses 2009 7X7 Mini Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Outhouses 2009 Wall Calendar 12" X 12"
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Outhouses 2009 Wall Calendar
Outhouses 2009 Square Wall Calendar
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Outhouse Books For The Outhouse Lover
Uncle John's Giant 10th Anniversary Bathroom Reader
Amazon Price: $12.85 (as of 11/11/2009)
Product Description This all-new collection of hilarious factoids and bizarre trivia is the biggest Bathroom Reader yet. As always, the fascinating snippets are organized by length, from short items (1-3 pages) to longer pieces for "more extended visits." Highlights include the history of lite beer, the origin of the yo-yo, and famous hoaxes.
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Nature Calls: The History, Lore, and Charm of Outhouses
By Dottie Booth
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 11/11/2009)
Product Description: A photographic guide to the outhouses of America and beyond. Author Dottie Booth has traveled far and wide, through rain, sleet, snow, and heaven knows what else to snap these shots. Her rustic full-color photographs are accompanied by jokes, stories, historical facts, and fun folklore. Presidential outhouses, and outhouses of the rich and famous are highlighted, including George Washington's distinguished octagonal and Lyndon Johnson's "Lone Star" model. Truly a unique addition to any architectural or photographic collection.
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Outhouses: Flushing Out America's Hidden Treasures
By Londie Padelsky
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/11/2009)
Product Description: This new book of photographs by Londie Padelsky offers readers a charming and quirky selection of outhouses from across the western states of America. Each region of the country boasts a different style and no one structure is the same. Some have been lovingly restored and others have aged with time and weather. Like David Stoecklein's series on cowboy gear and ranch style, this new book preserves a time-honored icon of the American West.
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Outhouses by Famous Architects
By Steve Schaecher
Amazon Price: $17.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
How would different architects design outhouses for famous buildings and dwellings? Product Description: Here are reproductions of stylish (dare we say "perfectionist"?) renderings of Thronehenge, Wright's Flushing Water, the Odor Dame Cathedral, the Taj Ma-stall, Jefferson's Johnicello, Sullivan's Merchants First National Outhouse, Le Corbusier's Bidet Savoye, Fuller's Geodesic Throne, the Hancock's John Building, the Centre Pompidoodoo-the unmistakable outhouse for that weird-looking French museum-and many others. Each is accompanied by insightful historical and analytical text, depending on your definitions of insightful and analytical. The preface, by architectural critic I.P. Daley, will leave you in no doubt of the importance of this completely nonsensical book.
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Planning A Hootenanny?
Help your guests find the bathoom
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Linda Spivey "Expressions" Outhouses
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Linda Spivey Outhouse Lotion Pump
Amazon Price: $20.37 (as of 11/11/2009)
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Linda Spivey Outhouse Double Switch Plate
Linda Spivey Outhouse Tissue Box Cover
Amazon Price: $33.58 (as of 11/11/2009)
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The Green Apple Quick Step
A "dance" to the outhouse
According to the Urban Dictionary, the green apple quick step" is defined as "Diarrhea. This is a southern term. It comes from people who ate apples when they were green, and not yet red. Then they would obviously run to the toilet." Thank you to John Dilbeck for suggesting this addition.
Christmas Outhouses
Santa's Outhouse Framed Art Print
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Frosty's Outhouse Framed Art Print
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
Holiday Outhouse Decorative Night Light
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/11/2009)
Usually ships in 3-4 business days
Any Outhouse Memories?
Love 'em or leave 'em.
What's your take on outhouses? Did you listen to Wild Granny Faye? She's a card!
DeboraR wrote...
I grew up in rural Kentucky and didn't have indoor plumbing till I was 13. An outhouse was a necessity not a luxury where I come from. I really hated to use them, seemed like every creeping, crawling insect of creation lived in them.
Posted September 28, 2009
azpoppy wrote...
I had no idea there was so much love for outhouses. I am not a huge fan due to the smell, but when you are stuck in a rowboat from dawn to dusk with nothing more than a corn can, the outhouse on the shore starts looking pretty good. :-P My grandfather was a firm believer that once you were on the lake, you stayed on the lake until sundown. Fun times. Entertaining lens.
Posted September 23, 2009
There's a family I once knew that lived on the outskirts of the small town I grew up in. Their family name was posted proudly on the front of their outhouse: "The Schmidt House". This lens made me think of them and smile- it was one of the few jokes I actually got when I was a kid. Would be a good photo for your lens :) Great lens on a topic that's always funny... for some reason or another :) 5*
Posted September 20, 2009
WindyWinters wrote...
Funny Lens! We have modern and old outhouses all over Vancouver Island. Cool Outhouse Decor!
Posted September 06, 2009
Shelly wrote
I really like this lens so much that when I'm in the neighborhood, I can't resist stopping by. I look forward to seeing your picture of the dirt road each time--anyone would be temped to go down it. I noticed last time I was a Kabetogama that the outhouses actually smell good at the campground--well vented and a chemical they are using that has a cherry scent.
Posted August 16, 2009
Ladydove62 wrote...
What an interesting lens MiMi. I love your creative writing exercise. I worked in a national park a few summers ago and duties included cleaning the outhouses... needless to say it is task that requires a clothespin.5*
Posted August 12, 2009
BevsPaper wrote...
What a fun lens! It is amazing that so many people are so fascinated with outhouses! My guess is...they NEVER had to use one! I used to make myself sick (literally) because I would try to wait until we went into to town where there was a real bathroom.
Posted July 26, 2009
Shelly wrote
A handy outhouse tip: In the northwoods, it seems these big woods spiders like to live in outhouses--never, never hit these guys at eye level with your shoe...spider innards are unpleasant on th face! Really you can leave these guys in peace and they will leave you alone.
Posted July 22, 2009
Ramkitten wrote...
I really like "In the Cornfield," not only because it's really well written but also because I had a similar experience while hiking. Stepped into an outhouse (aka privvy), only to find it was ... well, occupied. No way I was going to do what I'd come to do with that snake in there! But I did experience my fair share of outhouses on the Appalachian Trail. Some were very creative and rather nice--even some two-seaters for those who enjoy company (not me!)--but some were definitely ready to be demolished.
Anyhow, this is a fun lens!
Posted July 21, 2009
anaturalphenomenon wrote...
Awesome! I love the videos! We only just moved into town and rejoined 'civilization'; for the last five years my family have lived in the woods. We had an indoor outhouse. That is, we had a septic for the poo to go into, but no running water to flush it there. Also, when I was growing up here in Maine, we were very familiar with the good old outhouse. I actually DO enjoy using them--provided the smell isn't offensive.
Posted July 02, 2009
CCGAL wrote...
We had an outhouse until I was 6 years old - we got an indoor flush commode around '63 or '64. Daddy cut a smaller hole in it just for me after he found me hanging by my arms and legs trying not to fall in after I'd gone up the hill without an adult. Because it was so far up the hill to the outhouse, we made use of Chamber Pots ... ok, so they were empty 3 lb coffee cans ... did I mention we were dirt poor? LOL
I had to face the outhouse again my last 3 years of high school when we moved into my granddad's old cabin and had to wait until we could afford to run the plumbing into the house. I took an extra class in high school so I could get a shower every day. We always had a wood stove, and kept a bucket of ashes in both outhouses, and after we were finished with our "business" we dropped a scoop of wood ashes into the pit. It kept down the flies and the smells, but I was always nervous about snakes for some reason.
Odd topic, great lens! Loved the videos!!!
Posted June 22, 2009
24websurf wrote...
I had to laugh when I saw this in your list of lenses. Knowing you are from my part of the world, I knew it would be funny! This was a great look into the not so distant past.
Posted June 01, 2009
GoutWife wrote...
Memories, memories! I live in New Zealand and we used to have outhouses here too. I used to be terrified of having to go to the outhouse at night - my mother had to come with me.
Posted May 28, 2009
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
My guest bath is decorated in the outhouse motif. I love it, but I remember the outhouse out at the farm too well to love that.
Great lens
Lizzy
Posted May 17, 2009
shevans wrote...
I couldn't believe it when I saw this lens. I grew up with an outhouse in Northern Minnesota until I was 15, so I remember it well. It used to be a Halloween trick for teenagers to knock them over. Ours never was, but we were always on the lookout. Wow----the memories!
Posted May 06, 2009
partybuzz wrote...
Oh, yes...we had an outhouse until I was 13 years old! (50's - early 60's) I don't have any fond memories of it though! Great lens! Really unique subject! 5* and I've lensrolled you with my Vintage Decorating Ideas.
Posted April 16, 2009
EelKat wrote...
we have one, had it for years, but never really started using it until after the flood and we became homeless; it was a good thing to have in our yard all those years as it turned out it was there when we had no house (thus no bathroom) anymore.
Posted March 15, 2009
GrowWear wrote...
in reply to RufusQuail Have been meaning to do a section on the Sears catalog. Time, where does it go!
Posted March 10, 2009
MiMi (GrowWear)
I love Squidoo
Lensmaster GrowWear, aka MiMi GrowWear, has been a member since January 27 2007, has rated 3,305 lenses, favorited 3,074, and has created 69 lenses from scratch. MiMi GrowWear donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "Homeless In America". See all my lenses
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