2006

• More to come
• 9/13 I live in NE Pennsylvania. I am hopefully going to dig my first outhouse hole this weekend. Is there anything besides a shovel and prybar that I'll need? There was an article in our local newspaper of a guy that does it around here, and it got me inspired. Hopefully it will be productive!! Jennifer
• 9/13 I remember my Uncle Ben's 'thunderbox', the little green-painted wooden building which had carrying handles so you could move it around the vegetable garden just beyond the orchard. A hole was dug at a new location and the thunderbox lifted into place. It was no fun in winter, shivering by the light of an oil-lamp, but in the summer months one could sit there and gaze over the Vale of Trent (I'm writing from England) towards the hills of Cannock Chase. (The thunderbox had a three-quarter height door so one could look over the top of it). And he grew monster vegetables - cauliflowers and cabbages of truly prize-winning proportions. Oh yes, those were the days! Best Wishes, C. Waller
• 9/7 I love your website! I was wondering if outhouses are more environmentally friendly than regular toilets? Would you happen to know? Thank you very much for your attention in this matter. Very Truly Yours, J. A. Aragon
• 9/7 I am a science educator working at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. I need a picture of an outhouse for a program I am writing and want to know if there are any copywrite problems if I buy such a picture from your store and use it in a museum program. R. Cohen
• 9/7 Just thought to mention Chic Sale's short film, starring himself: "Lem Putt, the Specialist"
  I don't suppose you would know anyone with a copy ?
  It has been available on VHS
  Best regards, Matthew
• 9/6 I recently bought property that has a one holer WPA outhouse. It is in perfect shape. Cement floor and riser. The one I have has a serial number stamped in the left corner of the cement floor. Everything is still original, vertical lap siding, tin roof, corrugated metal vent pipe. wood seat.
  Now using it for storing yard tool gasoline cans. Are there people needing this information or are there any group that is need of this information? Did your outhouse have a serial number stamped in the floor? L. Simmons
• 8/30 Do you know what company manufactured outhouses for Sears in the late 1800's? We have someone calling from Sears asking for that info. They said it was some kind of contest when I called them back as the library was closing. They didn't call us until about 1/2 hour before we closed, and a book or two that "might" have had the answer were checked out on interlibrary loan. Apparently they needed the answer last night for whatever contest it was. If I ever find it out (have a couple of more emails out), I will let you know since your site is the perfect place for this type of trivia. We have a Sears 1898 reproduction catalogue but it wasn't in the index unless they were called something else back then.
• 8/31 Thanks, John, for replying. I have read the contrary about the moon and star. The moon was to designate a woman’s outhouse as Luna was the goddess of the moon. The star or sunburst denoted a men’s room. The heart was a German symbol, that I know, but it did not say male or female according to the source on line. The moon and sunburst sources came from The Vanishing American Outhouse by Ronald Barlow. So it is the heart that has me stumped. That is the symbol on my outhouse. Today we put it up on Hollywood blocks, tore off the roof which was in bad shape, and are ready to paint and roof.
  I get teased a lot about it—usually from people who do not know its history or ever used one. There are still four million in use today in this country compared to 50 million in the fifties. So this piece of Americana is quickly vanishing from our landscapes. Nadia
• 8/30 This week I was lucky enough to buy an outhouse after years of searching. It will become a tool shed. I have read about the significance of moons and suns on outhouses. Mine has a heart cut out on the door. All I found was that this was a German symbol. Any idea what it might mean? Nadia
• 8/28 My parent's folks were from Germany and whenever they had to run out to the outhouse because of the "runs", they used an expression that sounded like shanell collereens. I have no idea what it means but I'm pretty sure the shanell part was a N.Y. accented version of the German word schnell which means something like hurry. It makes sense since if you had the runs, you'd better hurry to the outhouse! But the collereens part has me stumped. Any ideas? Thanks! And thanks for a great site! K. Stanley
• 8/27 The poop coop
• 8/16 Say Howdy to Kilroy for me, too!
  That Little Old Shack Out Back
  as performed by Billy Ed Wheeler
  at the West Virginia Folk Festival in the late 60's
  They passed an ordinance in the town:
  they said we'd have to tear it down,
  That little old shack out back so dear to me,
  Though the Health department said,
  "Its day was over and dead"
  It will stand forever in my memory.
  
  Chorus:
  Don't let em tear that little brown building down,
  Don't let em tear that precious building down,
  Don't let em tear that little brown building down,
  For there's not another like it in the country or the town.
  
  It was not so long ago that I went trippin' through the snow
  Out to that house behind my old hound dog
  Where I would sit me down to rest like a snowbird on his nest
  and read the Sears and Roebuck catalog
  I would hum a happy tune,
  Peepin' through the quarter-Moon,
  As my daddy's kin had done before;
  It was in that quiet spot,
  That daily cares could be forgot...
  It gave the same relief to rich and poor.
  Chorus:
  Don't let em tear that little brown building down,
  Don't let em tear that precious building down,
  Don't let em tear that little brown building down,
  For there's not another like it in the country or the town.
  
  Now it was not a castle fair
  But I could build my future there,
  an' build my castles to the yellow jacket's drone:
  I could orbit round the Sun,
  Fight with General Washington,
  Or be a King upon his golden throne.
  
  It wasn't fancy built at all.
  It had newspapers on the wall
  It was air-conditioned in the wintertime;
  It was just a humble hut but its door would never shut,
  And a man could get inside without a dime.
  
  Chorus:
  Don't let em tear that little brown building down,
  Don't let em tear that precious building down,
  Don't let em tear that little brown building down,
  For there's not another like it in the country or the town.
  
  I was born in 1953 and I can remember my times back when I was a kid myself.
• 8/14 I’m looking for info on the earth closet 1869 as I have one and would perhaps like to sell it. Please pass on any info you may have to help me on value of it. Thanks a lot, Barbara
• 8/12 Am looking to purchase a Thos Crapper & Co Ltd sign, or a repro TC manhole cover. Might you have anything or any suggestion? Thanks, Is mise le meas
• 8/10 I too was a civil engineer in Charleston about the time you were here, I graduated from WV Tech. in August 1977 and worked at Milam Engineering in the late 70's and early 80's. So, after reading your narrative on Billy Ed Wheeler's ode to the Little Brown Shack I was wondering who you are, mind telling me your name?
• 8/9 Would you have any building plans for handicapped-accessible outhouses? [No]
• 8/1 I’m interested in knowing what one of the June 15 1869{stamped on brass flush handle} Earth Commode is worth as I’ve had one for many years. It was found in my father-in-laws barn attic. I’ve used it as a side table and conversation piece. I’m leery to take it to antique dealer for true estimate. Can you give me any advice? It is the same as your picture on web identified as Moule’s Patent Earth Commode Pat. 1869. Thanks for your interest and help, B. Knight
• 7/26 I am inquiring about the 5-holer in Nash County, NC pictured on your website. Do you have further information as to where it is located? I was playing Trivial Pursuit the other night and one of the questions asked, "In what state does Nash County boast a 5-holer?" I just moved near Nash County and would love to check this place out! Cheers, L. Hawley
• 7/21 I have been looking for a shelf like the one on your page that your friend makes. Where would I find one at to purchase?
• 7/20 I saw the patooie? at your store. I bought one. What mechanism did you use to make it spit as people walked by? Can I do this with mine AND WHERE DO i GET NEEDED PARTS? Thank you H. Koech
• 7/19 Hi, I'm a freelance writer for the Berkshire Eagle, a daily newspaper in Pittsfield, MA, and I am working on a story about outhouses; specifically the poster "Outhouses of the Berkshires" by Dan Dougherty. I wondered if you had heard about this poster and can elaborate why there is such nostalgia about outhouses.
• 7/19 Howdy John, I came across your site today and am i glad i did.I just had a short look around and it is amazing. I"ll be here for a few days at break and lunch looking and reading all the neat stuff at work.Hope you get to see and fly Howie again.Sorry to read about Kaiser.He was still young at 8.Well i"ll go now and enjoy your site and get back to you again someday. God bless America What a great nebourgh country to have. Richard
• 7/18 Hello, I built a pinewood derby car that looks like an outhouse. If you would like a picture or two for your website let me know. Doug
• 7/28 I would be very curious to know who sent the December 1, 2002 comments to your sight. Since my father (Neil Urich) was an only child and he had 4 daughters it seems rather interesting that one would indicate their uncle grew up on the farm. Would it be possible to obtain that info.
• 7/6 I've found your site while doing some background research for tours of our wastewater treatment plant, and was intrigued by the Earth Closet article. Some people today still experiment with that, in the form of "Humanure". Are you aware of this site? http://www.sewerhistory.org/articles/trtmnt/trtmnt.htm
  He has a huge site here, but at the top of that page, there is an article from 1877 that also mentions Earth Closets in the US. The earth closet info starts on page 10 of the PDF. Hope that might be interesting to the original Earth Closet owner, etc mentioned on your pages. Looks like it was more common in the UK than the US, but definitely happening here some, too.
• 7/5 My father said that the term Chic Sales came from Sears & Roebuck. Sears & Roebuck in the 30’s & 40’s advertised in their catalog a complete “Chic Sales”.
• 6/30 I bought an old orchard farm and want to sell the outhouse. Is there a market for it?
• 6/26 Dear Outhouses of America, I’d be very interested to know if it is advisable, or not, to add kitchen compost (potato & carrot peels, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.) to the outhouse. Do you know? I came across your site…..and a good one it is……while trying to google for the answer. Thanks for any help. Esther De Vos [Curator's response: Hello Esther, It is not advisable!
  Add that stuff to a compost pile, not to your valued outhouse! If you want to add anything, add some lime. Read about what kind of lime to add on our FAQ page. http://www.jldr.com/faqs.html#lime
• 6/26 This was really funny. If you woulf keep me updated, I'd apperciate it. Why Lawson
• 6/24 There was a plaque on Grandma's privy wall that read:
  
  Here I sit all broken-hearted,
  Came to shit & only farted!
  
  After Grandma had a modern bathroom installed, another plaque with a coin slot read: This bathroom sure cost me a lot of dough So please I ask, wo'nt you pay as you go?
• 6/22 Do you know how I might contact the holder of the copyright for Ed Wheeler's outhouse song? [No]
• 6/20 some where i have picture of a brink out house, when i was a kid they were everywhere. there is only one standing that i know of. if your interested, i'll hunt it up and email it to you. keep in touch
• 6/20 [This is quite interesting!] The new Supermarket near our house has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of a thunderstorm and the smell of fresh rain. When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and witness the scent of fresh butter fat. When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of eggs frying. So far I have been too afraid to go down the toilet paper aisle.
• 6/19 I'm looking for directions on how to build and use a probe to locate the old outhouse site in my yard. Do you have pictures and directions? Let me know. Thanks Steve
• 6/18 I, too, have a night shirt with the outhouses of Michigan from Victor Hayes and actually had the pleasure of meeting him while I was at Torch Lake, Michigan. I was so taken by him and his artwork that I bought three of his sketches--two outhouses and a barn. I am moving to the British Virgin Islands and cannot take them with me. Therefore, I would like to sell them to someone that would appreciate them since they were from such an incredible man. Please let me know if you can help me find a new, deserving home for them. Not asking much, just that they would be taken care of.
• 6/14 Hello, im looking to rent a portable outhouse for a construction site just outside of westport, if you could please email me back with a quote that would be greatly appreciated.
• 6/10 Here is a bit of history about the Gays Illinois 2 story outhouse. As a boy 7 years old my father lived in the apartment with his parents, brother and 2 sisters. My father (Bill Weaver) gathered coal on the big 4 railroad tracks to sell to the residents of the apartment. The 2 story outhouse had a small coal stove on each floor. Each time someone went into the outhouse they would take a few pieces of coal for the stove to keep it going so the outhouse would stay warm. Winters were cold snow drifts were often 6 ft deep, there were no bathrooms in the apartments. The Weaver family later moved to Mattoon. My father met my mother after high school in Mattoon and they were married. Being a young couple with not much money they moved to Gays and lived in the apartment with the 2 story outhouse. My father worked in the ammunition plant in Mattoon during WWII. I can barely remember living in the apartment as a boy of 3 years old. I remember I use to like to run out to the outhouse door and back to the apartment on the second floor walkway. I can remember riding a tricycle on the second floor walkway too. G. Weaver
• 5/31 Worked for Harry Gidley for 15 years, last of the true gentlemen. Sad the last few years of his life. R. Graley
• 5/30 I want to purchase a real outhouse for our farm in cochrane alberta. Can you help me? experience a rocky mountain high
• 5/29 Nothing is so fresh
  Or back to the past
  Where did those lil houses go
  Where I used to wipe my .......
  sunflowersue
• 5/23 Can you email regarding your outhouses? Thanks great site.
• 5/15 Wondering if you could help. I found this bottle about a week ago on a dive trip to South Carolina. The wreck I found it on is commonly referred to as the "Governor" but is believed to be the "Swanee". The ship was a paddle wheel steamer and went down in the 1870s. I have numerous small artifacts from this site, but this is by far the nicest. I found it without the stopper in place but within inches of one another. The substance inside is hard and appears black almost like tar. I dug about 3/4 of an inch of it out which was loose for analysis, but chose to leave the remaining in place. The glass has a texture to it, almost like tiny lines all through it. The bottle appears to have been blown into a mold with a line apparent at the base of the neck and bottom. The substance that I removed appears red when wet and worked in the fingers under running water. Thanks, Gary
  [Answer: The bottle as described, and as I can make out in the photo, would be consistent with the 1870’s date mentioned for the sunken boat. A bottle with a glass stopper usually means that it held something meant to be used over a length of time, and/or refilled. Often the glass stopper and the inside of the bottle neck were both ground to make the fit more perfect. This is still done, particularly in perfume bottles. However, I don’t think this bottle is a perfume…too plain. I assume there is no embossing on it. The lines described are often called ground lines. These were called by the imperfect glass mixture being leached out by moisture along the mixture swirls.
  It would be difficult to say what the bottle held. It is plain and utilitarian, and the nature of its contents is up for conjecture, with no more clued that this. It is however, a genuine 19th century artifact…a piece of a time period preserved in glass. Charlie Cook in Louisiana Bayou Country
• 5/15 My name is Sue Roberts and I live in the UK in Yorkshire. I came across your website whilst searching for information about Edward Johns & Co Ltd sanitaryware.
  Firstly, please accept my sincere condolences following the loss of 'Kaiser'. We have had German Shepherd Dogs as pets for many years, and each time we lose one it breaks our heart. We always say that we're not having another one as the loss is too great, but always change our minds as living without one is hard too. Our current GSD is 'Cassie', a longhaired female, who is one of the sweetest, gentlest, good natured dogs I ever had the pleasure to meet, let alone have as part of the family. I hope that time eases the loss of Kaiser for you.
  The purpose of my e mail is to ask if you have any further information at all on the 'Dolphin' WC's on your website? We recently moved house and in one of the bathrooms, we have an original Edward John's 'fish' WC and matching wash hand basin. I can honestly say, I've never seen anything like it in my life! It's just so funny, although my 10 year old daughter hates it and wants us to replace it as it's in her bathroom! The information I have so far is that Edward Johns & Co Ltd ceased producing sanitaryware in the 1950's, but I would love to be able to find out the age of the WC and basin, and if it has any value if possible.
  I would appreciate any info or comments you may have.
  Kind regards from a very very wet Yorkshire!
  Sue Roberts
• 5/13 Hello, Webmaster! I stumbled across your page featuring the 1869 Earth Closet found by Mark Henderson. I'm making a documentary on the history of the toilet (no, really, I am) and wondered if it might be possible to put me in touch with Mr. Henderson. Many thanks in advance...T. Schillinger
• 5/9 JLO - here is a pal for you - a lady that moves old outhouses to her own property!
  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12692217/
• 5/7 We now have a modern one in the lower part of Michigan and it to has a nice resting spot near White Rock Park just built in 2004. Check it out for the park and nice little paved walk with the Indian names of many trees.
• 5/7 Dear sir. I'm doing a Grange program on out houses I saw one one on slides about 15 years ago the man since died. If you know of any one ore where I can get a video Please let me Know Sincerley L. Slingerland
• 4/27 Great Site, for some warped reason I have always looked at toilets, a fascination, why, who knows. From, as a kid, dropping penny bangers into the girls pan at the Horsham swimming hole on the Wimmera River, hosing down the night cart driver when a rusty pan bottom dropped out when carrying it on his shoulder. We could stand well away with the hose. Cobber of mine south of Horsham, where is it, post hole digger would dig a hole, loo then dragged over it because it had skids. Only problem was it was never in the same spot and it was dangerous to walk around looking for it, the holes where never filled. But it still is the best place to read a book. Anton Pallot Melbourne Victoria [it works upside down] Australia.
• 4/17 Hi, I saw your website on outhouses, it's a pretty cool site. I wanted to tell you that if you are ever planing a trip to Wisconsin, try Door County. (aka the thumb of Wisconsin) Peninsula State Park would be a hotspot for pit toilets, I would know as I camp there every year, and if you venture out of the park, there are a ton of old outhouses to be seen everywhere. If you aren't planning a trip to Wisconsin (which you probably aren't) then I could take pictures of outhouses and send them to you. My cousin and I do a "tour" on out bikes finding outhouses and pit toilets and rating them, much like your site. If I find an interesting one, I'll send it to you.
• 4/16 Hi there!!
  I happened to stumble into your web-site as I was trying to find additional information on Virginia Sale. She was Chic Sale's sister and was married to Sam Wren. The two of them were apparently well known character actors in their own right. Sam went on to become a successful and busy Stage Director. When I was young, we lived in a "Inn" located in NH. This Inn was previously owned by Sam and Virginia. I've found a large amount of books and such with both Sam's and Virginia's names on them as well as several copies of Chic Sale's books.
  I'd like to find some way to get in touch with the Sale's family to see if they have any interest in the material that I have. If possible, I'd like to leave my e-mail address and see if they contact me.
  Thanks for your time, Dana Donahue
• 3/30 I'm looking for a crescent moon outdoor light that turns on for about 15 seconds, and the off for a similar amount. Any ideas?
• 3/28 In my early youth we had an OUTHOUSE and was located about 100 feet from our home in upstate NY. Thanks for the memory.
  One more thought. we lived in Zion until 1936 and just wondering if the Mudgett's who purchased this landmark could be related. Best regards. Ted
• 3/25 Hi! I like your website. Two weeks ago I started my first outhouse dig. I know enough about the history of the land to know it was started and closed in the last 50-75 years. It had a concrete base and toilet with only three rods left where the seat used to be. Also, it had a wooden outline with anchor points were the walls had been.
  Anyway, after the concrete was moved aside, I had to pick through about 2 feet of nearly solid rockcrete to get to the dirt. I hit "sheist" yesterday. Strangely, the dirt went from its normal orange and brown clay-like stuff to a hard, but more powdery than clay-like, white dirt. Is this lime that has been poured in? If so, would the lime still have its normal acidity level?
  How far down would a modern privy have been dug in a rocky terrain? Also, there is a tear-drop shaped indent a few feet away. Could it have been a previous hole?
  Thanks and Happy Diggin' Nancy
• 3/23 The double-dumper was originally built behind what use to be GAMMILL’S general store and you could access the top perch from the ground but I never saw a weather event that made this necessary.
• 3/17 Helllo! I was interested in buying one of these towel racks. Could you possibly e-mail the price of them? Thank you! T. Kramer
• 3/13 Hi there! I absolutely love your site! Do the folks that send you pictures leave an e-mail address where they can be contacted. I would love to get the dimensions of a particular one that I want my hubby to build for me for storage. (he doesn't know it yet!) Thank you so much and keep up the good work! Happy Dumpings! Diane
• 3/14 Hi John, Hope the race went well,when will you post the pictures ????? ZIM.
• 3/2 Speaking of outhouses, I just spent a week at Philmont Boy Scout High Adventure Ranch in New Mexico, and they have a very strange outhouse culture there. The bigger outhouses on the trails have red shingle roofs and are called "Red Roof Inns." Most of them are "pilot to co-pilot" with two holes side by side. The smaller jobs are way out on the trail and are boxes over a pit..."pilot to bombadier" where you sit back to back. My son and I are still laughing about it.
  Cheers, G. Wood
• 3/1 In my great uncles memoirs of life in Bedford County Va he refers to the outhouse as the "Chick Saler." Can't find out what this means.
  Here's the passage...
  The house was connected to the kitchen by a breezeway. Kitchens in those days were not an integral part of the house. The cook, black Lena King, lived in here boudoir over the top of the kitchen, and reached by and outside staircase. Next to the house and kitchen was the ash house, a lovely place for small boys to play and get dirty, and to find many things that had come from the fireplaces and stoves. The smokehouse and carriage shed were not far away and back of them was the woodpile and the milking yard. The chicken house was next to the ash house, separated by a small vegetable garden. The chicken yard was surrounded by a grape arbor at the end of which were luscious figs. Back of the chicken yard was the Chick Saler, a three-hole job, I remember, which was in use before we put bathrooms in the house.
  Any insight you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
  Cheers, Garland Wood, Williamsburg, VA
• 2/26 We own a plantation in South Carolina. I have recently become interested in privy digging. The original plantation house was built in 1774 and is still there. I have searched some for the privy but have been unsuccessful. I was wondering what kind of information you could give me to help me find the privy. I was wondering how far the privy may be from the house? Really I would like to know what to look for. Any information you could give to help me I would greatly appreciated. Thanks, Luke
• 2/26 i have always wondered what the half moon on an outhouse represents. do you know? [Look at our FAQ page]
• 2/22 I read with interest and enjoyment your input into the 2/19/06 article on Trenary, MI in the Detroit News. Please visit our website, www.outhouseopen.com for a few more laughs and history of our great golf outing which is in its 37th year. If you like, I will U. S. mail you a 2006 invitation as we have not yet entered the new flyer on this website.
  Also, each year I provide participants (150 or so) with a outhouse related item. I have briefly looked at your store and possibly we can “swing a deal”.
  Flushingly Yours, T. J. Rivard, Tournament Director Outhouse Open Golf Tornament
• 2/22 I have two cement outhouses at my house. They are cement roof sides and floor and were put up in the early 20s. I live in the old Lawrence School house outside Westfield, Wi. A whole bunch of people tell me about the times they often used the outhouses. I would send you pictures if you like.
• 2/21 The public one-way glass outhouse in Switzerland is really an art project from a local art school. I don't believe it is functional nor meant to be. It appears to be located in the middle of the street, and I don't believe this is a very practical permanent location, with cars passing so close and no guard rails. Of course, the reflections would be distracting to drivers. Another hint as to it's impracticality is nighttime interior lighting. You wouldn't want to groping around in there in the dark, so turning on a light would make you visible from the outside in spite of the reflective glass. Bob
• 2/21 Love your web site.How did your pet pass-on? We lost our "Goldie " trough a cancer operation a few years back, and it is still hard to talk about it....[bloat-the stomach twisted]
  Your web appeared in an article in the Detroit News Sunday paper, about a Trenary Michigan annual classic outhouse race. There were no details of the race?
  I too am a flying nut...Flew in more home-bulits,and stunt plains, but never had a licenses. allso a photagropher,and many stories about all the above
  IM 76 yrs old guy who would like to watch some crazy people have fun.....B. Zimmerman (Zim)
• 2/19 having a log cabin on the Muskegon river in Northern lower Michigan and using an outhouse there since age 4. I truly appreciate your page. In fact the cabin is located in Osceola county where one of your newer pictures seems to be taken.
  I have to mention, that some of the picture you have are not true outhouses. A "true outhouse" is one that has a hole in the ground and the "contents" degrade into the ground like a septic system without the tank.
  Some of the pictures you have like that of Yates cider mill, which is located a few mile from my down state home are not "true outhouses" but cement cesspools that are pumped out on a regular basis like permanent porta potty's.
  Matt in Shelby Township, MI
• 2/18 It's Gotta Go! What if a person has a real out house FOR SALE built about in late 1800's - made of pecky cypress and cedar shingled roof - a real beauty!? It comes from a plantation in south Louisiana. This is a house that will lose it's home due to "progress". I will send pictures if this a place to place the add!! What a "darn tootin" way to go. regards donna and greg
• 2/17 I found your website, and it's very interesting. I also have a CCC outhouse that has been restored. I'll be glad to tell you about it and send you pix if you're interested. I wouldn't mind having them posted, as long as somebody doesn't decide they need it worse than I do! It is original to my husband's family farm, but we've moved it to the house we live in now, the old house was torn down last year. It has a concrete floor and stool with original wooden seat & lid. The floor has WPA stamped in the concrete. I'd appreciate any information that you may have about it, it's possible value, etc. My husband brought it back to the place and placed it in the backyard for a birthday present for me! I was thrilled to get it! His uncle had it at his place for several years and restored it. I just love it. Thanks, A. Calk Silver Valley, TX
• 2/14/06 I have it on good authority that the germanic peoples used a pinklebaum as a repository for liquid waste when an outhouse was not readily available. This might make an interesting aside as I can almost imagine a pinklebaum race! Perhaps after several six packs or a large pail of U.P. german style...
  
  For myself... I can remember one cold December night in Michigan's U.P. The melody of, O pinklebaum, o pinklebaum, wie treu sind deine Blätter!
  Du grünst nicht nur
  zur Sommerzeit,
  Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
  O pinklebaum, o pinklebaum,
  wie treu sind deine Blätter!
  
  wafted through my head as I took mental note of its great beauty after trudging a short distance through the snow from the door of the cabin, while clad in night-shirt and slippers... after falling several times, I stood in admiration of the growing yellow ring decorating its base. Looking up with wonder at the surrounding starry sky... I recall thinking; How lovely they twinkle as if fastened to and radiating from its branches!... As a ledge of snow slid from them nearly burying me in a frozen, white, U.P. embrace, hiding every trace of my recent amber adornment and seating me, shoulder deep in its icy, diamond-like, winter splendor.
  I never did find those damn slippers!
  D. Pierce
• 2/13 I am trying to find a cute poem to put in an outhouse to remind people not to throw paper into the hole but to put it in the trash and remove it before they leave. Do you have any suggestions or places I can visit to find something along these lines? Of do you know of a site where I might find some cute clipart to make my own?
• 2/10 When I attended girl scout day camp, for some reason, the outhouse was called the teepee.
• 2/9 Do the Outhouse plans that you sell on your web site include everything you need to build the outhouse pictured, including a materials list? What size is the outhouse? How are the plans sent, by mail or by email? [The plans are plans and they have a materials list but the materials are not included!]
• 2/6 just wanted to say hi to all and wish i could be home this year for the races instead im on the beach in myrtle beach s.c. - will be missing you - malison
• 2/3 I was surfing the web looking for photos of outhouses when I found your link to "Norwalk Ohio Outhouses" This caught my attention because I am originally from that area. The outhouse in front of the restaurant looked very familiar. Then I realized that it is my brother-in-law's restaurant, the Bailey Lakes Restaurant. It is actually in Ashland Ohio. What a suprise! DP Syracuse, NY
• 2/1 I found your site by using a search engine for outhouses. I just sent you an email but not sure if it went. I apologize if you received this 5 or 6 times because it looked like it wasn't actually sending using the email on your website. I make outhouses, life size out of old barnwood. They have a crescent moon on the door. I use 2 x 2's for the bottom framing, they have a floor, no seat but you could add a real toilet, camp toilet, or composting toilet. They are great for storing gardening tools in. They look great for that decorator who has a log cabin and wants to look authentic. I will send you a picture if you would like. This would be an opportunity for you to be able to furnish real outhouses for your customers. They could be shipped directly to them. I am checking on the price of shipping. If you are interested, let me know.
• 1/30 I was wondering if you would know of anyplace online or otherwise where I could get a quote or appraisal on how much an outhouse from 1918 would be worth? I live in Newark, NY, which is right outside of Rochester, NY. My fiance and I bought our house last year, it was built in 1918, and the original outhouse was still in the backyard. We contacted our local town historical society, and they are very interested in getting the outhouse, but cannot give us any idea of how much it would be worth. It is in pretty good condition, all things considered. Just wondered if you would have any information. Thanks. E. Woerner
• 1/14/06 We called it the "Necessary". By the way, my father's last name before his parents changed it when they moved to the states was "outhouse". In the original Dutch it meant any building away from the main village. Later it came to mean any building away from the main house but NOT what we now know as the outhouse. That was called the privy, wc, toilet, necessary, loo, etc. There are many "outhouse" family all over the us and canada.
• 1/1/2006 hey ,love your site.this spot i go digging is not a privy but its on a hilly creekbed in northern california.i think it was an old burn pile/dump.most of the stuff i find is clear but i ve seen evidence of some real old stuff.mostly broken glass in the creek.im just wondering,how deep should i dig?i feel like im just waistin my time cause all i find is screw tops and brown cork top clorox bottles and clear medicines. the area has aqua blue broken glass everywhere but i just cant seem to find the old stuff.seems like they stopped dumping there in the 40's.thanks, glenn

2005

• More to come
• 12/29 Congrats on your NPR interview debut. Caught it this AM early on WDET with one eye open..... Am I the dentist of a celebrity now? Too, too funny! HZALD, DDS
• 12/28 The reason for my contacting you is to see if you or someone you know may be interested in purchasing an outhouse collection? I have pictures of the collection and would be happy to email them to you. There is a number of items in the collection. It is my husbands 72 year old uncle that has been collecting for 30 years or a little longer. He has recently moved from Racine, Wisconsin to Red Bay, Alabama and has had to down size his collection and he has put me in charge of trying to sell his collection. I am not exactly sure of the number of items in his collection, but I am sure that he has at least one and more of some of these items in his collection:
  postcards, banks, salt & pepper shakers (naked lady, hurry, wooden, ceramic shakers,etc.), music boxes, books, snapshot pictures, photo album/scrapbook, Rumph mugs, squirting gag outhouses, black boys, hillbilly wall plaque sets, wall pictures, prints not framed, pig outhouses, Vintage Voices News Paper Fall 1981 news paper and novelty items, etc.
• 12/27 To whom it may concern, I was just wondering how would I get me team signed for the races in 2006? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, B. Mingori
• 12/26 I too have photographed the Nahma Junction outhouse. It is a nice one!! My family thought I was off my rocker when I made them stop. It has now become a family joke. I am collecting my own shots now and even have family scouting out locations. I refer to it as Shitter Shooting. Boone Illinois has a good supply so that keeps me busy with the changing seasons. I just enjoy knowing that there are others with my oddball hobby!
• 12/11 Hi There!
  My Mother was at the Institute for the Blind in Boston many years ago, after losing her eyesight, and the Outhouse song was sung for her. It was such a wonderfully happy part of her life and has been remembered often by her surviving children including me.
  THANKS!! L. Flanders
• 12/9 [An article about our site] Outhouses of America Tour
  Today we prove that there is a website out there dedicated to everything.
  Surprisingly, there is a lot of great free site content here. Just scroll down past the commercial stuff and we will start our tour with the navigation area. This site is divided into categories: Definitions, Trivia etc., Real Outhouses, Models & Miscellaneous, Drawings and Funny Postcards, and An Exploding Outhouse.
  The Definitions section tells you what an outhouse really is, and other things it can be called, for example, a privy.
  The first thing in the Trivia section really is worth seeing. This poster of the poem The Passing of a Backhouse has all these little characters drawn on it, and they're all saying something. It's really neat. If you want to just read the poem without straining your eyes, just go to the next link in the section and read the illustrated version.
  The History of Thomas Crapper and a Collection of Antique Loos shows old toilet and plumbing fixtures that were designed by Thomas Crapper. I would follow up by reading the section Flushed with Pride the story of Thomas Crapper. This man revolutionized the water closet (W.C.) with his inventions in sanitation, but he did not invent the water closet. His history is a very interesting read. If you want to read more I suggest following the link back to the Thomas Crapper & Co. site.
  Next I'd like to talk about the Outhouse Diggers section. Digging Up the Past was fairly remarkable reading about these men who dig up outhouses and all the things they would find, like antique glass bottles and tools, saws, adzes, cups, plates, tooth brushes, and other odds and ends.
  In the next section, Real Outhouses, there is an entire gallery of pictures of actual outhouses.
  The Models and Miscellaneous section has hand-made models of outhouses, outhouse collectors, and much more. There is just too much to list.
  Drawing and Funny Postcards has drawings, animations, postcards... yep, all of outhouses. I liked the rocket-powered outhouse the best.
  At first I thought the Exploding Outhouse would involve demolitions. Then I found out it was a cleverly crafted toy/model of an outhouse. You put a quarter in it. That sets off the trigger, and the outhouse explodes. It's really neat with great pictures. Check it out!
  http://www.jldr.com/ohindex.shtml
  ~ Amanda
• 12/9 My name is Shawn and I'm from a company called WorldStart. Your site was recently featured in our Computer Tips Newsletter as the Cool Site Of The Day. We did a review and recommend it to all of our 215,000 readers.
• 12/8 I am a student at Florida international university and was asked a very hard question about outhouses perhaps you know the answer. if i needed a scientific instrument called a "left handed quodlibet" where would I go to seek information about a piece of equipment used in locating the proper position of an outhouse?
  [a left handed quodlibet is a probe ]
  lol found out the naswer turns out he likes pranks the real question is hidden inside the other one. the true question he said was if you needed a scientific instrument where would you seek information on it? and the answer is a scientific dictionary
• 12/3 We are considering a business to build outhouses. Do you sell them? build them, or just use them? Janis
• 11/29 [Now here is something that really makes me feel great about maintaining this Tour!] I am a Middle School Administrator and during a conversation with one of my 8th grade boys, he ask me if I would like to see something 'cool'. Your site is what he pulled up. He read from top to bottom and ended with emotion that too many of our citizens lack. I asked him what he thought of the site and his comment was.........I am proud to be able to say that I am free and I want to go into military service when I am older to help protect America from evil. He said that it made him angry when people talk or refuse to stand when the Pledge of Allegiance is said. It saddens me to see that a 14 year old has more respect for the country that we call home than the prominent 'leaders' that find so much fault. Thank you for your site and for enlightening a young mind and heart.
• 11/15 Do you sell any outhouses? We are looking for one as a Christmas gift.
• 11/12 I have a camp house with no water, no electricity in the swamp near me. It is deep in the Oconee river swamp, and the water goes high most every year. The camp house is 15 feet above the ground (even then the water got about 6 feet deep inside a few years ago). I want to build an outhouse for it, but am wondering the best way to do it. I was going to just build it on the ground, but the river will carry it off. I figure my options are to build it off the ground, or put it on barrels, so it will float, and tie it off. Any advice? [Build a mooring and attach chains and then let it float up. Problem is that water is really powerful so it may not be there when you return.]
• 11/10 I am interested in learning the costs of the different prefab concrete outhouses you have for sale, as well as whether your price includes set up. Thanks
• 11/9 I wanted to let you know that we have picked your domain as one of our Strange Domains. I would really like to get more information from you about the site (what was the inspiration, any interesting stories that relate to it, etc..).
• 11/3 Your awesome you smell like shit. CHRISTINE O'LEARY [Hmmmm, you do too!]
• 11/3 I have a out house , possilbly for sale. What can I do? The farm house was built in 1877 and is also for sale. Located in N. Ill. Out house is in great shape.
• 10/27 what is this ? u have facts on thomas crapper at all and i thought i took use this to help me with my report well guess what it won't i think............i probably didn't read all but i read a lot to know this is garage !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [You fail!!!]
• 10/26 When I was a child in California, my mother - who was from Nevada - had an old 78 record of a partly sung version of 'The Specialist'...which I learned by heart at the time...
  I am approaching 70 now and am trying to reconstruct the song. I have quite a lot of it. I emigrated to New Zealand in 1968 and many rural places still had outhouses as a matter of course. It was here in NZ that I found the BOOK 'I'm a Specialist' that, I assume the song was derived from.
  I'd still like to find all the words to the 'song' version which rhymed. Can you point the way? I can't remember the singer/reciter's name on the record which was probably from the late '20s. Probably on Decca or RCA Victor.
  Cheers from New Zealand, Ms C. Dawson
• 10/22 I have been to several Caribou Coffee stores. In the men’s restroom they each have a framed photo of three outhouses. Have you seen this photo and would you have any idea where I may purchase this photo? Thank you for your help. R. Perkins
• 10/20 hi there i'm looking to purchase a full size outhouse in eastern pa lancaster or anywhere nearby as a gag gift for christmas can you help me thanks jim
• 10/19 Came across your website today. You need to come to Alaska where we still build and use outhouses. Even in parts of Fairbanks (the second largest city in Alaska) there are still outhouses in use. I have several friends that live in not so remote areas that have them. Come on up to Gods Country and see for your self. Bob
• 10/23 Enjoyed your site!!
  In my younger years I worked with a former WAC. She had been stationed in SE Asia during WWII. All the "facilities" were outhouses, one night after she and another WAC had completed natures call they reported to the MP's that they had heard breathing noises at the facility. After a search the MP's found a Japanese soldier hiding in the pit under the holes to listen for any information that would help the Japanese Army. I wonder how the candidates were picked for that job.
  From The Heart Of Dixie Harold
• 11/8 I read about you in the Detroit Free Press. I happen to have a little soft-cover book titled Backhouses of the North by Muriel E. Newton-White and published by Highway Biook Shop - Cobalt, Ontario, Canada. 1972 first; 1991 26th.
  I am wondering if you have a copy and, if not, would you like this one? I picked it up for $3 and would like to donate it to your collection. Please let me know! [I didn't have a copy but I do now! Thanks to this person.]
• 10/16 just a question.. while visiting the store yesterday there was a horrible odor in the air around the area, we were just wondering if this was something from the outhouse or was it a nearby farm?? we thought since you advertise the outhouse we just assumed the odor was coming from the store...
• 10/16 I enjoyed reading the Free Press article about your "Out-House" hobby. An old aunt of mine (that resided in Colorado Springs), had a similar hobby. She died 20 years ago (at the sge of 97), and left me a very strange item, in her will. It seems in her world travels, she photographed "Out-Houses". Every shape & size----even has a two-storied model. She bound them all in a hand made album, with a hand-painted wooden cover. [Curator's Comment: I did end up picking up this unbelievable photo album. Words cannot describe it. The pictures are all labeled with where the outhouse is along with the year. Each picture also has silver glitter glued around the picture. Priceless!]
• 10/12 I have a Moule earth closet in my Maine museum, but it is in poor condition, missing the china splash guard and tray. I would be pleased to offer a token small cash contribution for one, as mentioned, in pristine condition. Too bad the earth closet lost out to the water closet. Moule's invention conserved high quality potable water and at the same time returned to the earth the nutrients to whence they had come. (America has lost 6" of topsoil)
• 10/12 Howdy, I need a deodorant for my outhouse at my mountain cabin that will zap the stink but wont kill the good bugs that eat the dudu. Any suggestions? [Nose plugs]
• 10/6 Hi, believe it or not, my last name is Outhouse. I married into the wonderful family just over two years ago. A little embarassed at first but now love the name. It's alot of fun. I typed in outhouse to see what would come up and this website appeared. I can't wait to show it to my husband. Our wedding table center pieces where wooden outhouses that we purchased at a craft store here in Oregon and the wedding party decorated and painted them. There is also a family historical society and reunions. Just to let you know, Outhouses go beyond just being Shi--ers.
• 10/5 I have a modest collection of outhouse related postcards. If you'd like to add them to your postcard section, I'll send you some hi-res scans. I also have a late 1970s photo I took of the outhouse behind our old home in Penryn, California with a "Poisonous Gas" sign affixed to the door! Let me know, and I'll send a scan of that one too.
• 10/4 Dear John, after reading the article in the Traverse City paper about your hobby, I thought you might be interested in something I have! A very very old outhouse door. What is unique about it is that it has the cresent moon, doorknob, and a bird house. It is about 74 inches tall x 30 inches wide. It is made of 3/4" thick tongue and groove vertical boards and is very heavy. It is very old with weathered whitewashed finish (very little left on it). My husband bought it at an antique store many years ago and was in the living room as a conversation piece! It has never been outside as long as I have had it.
• 10/3 John - read your Free Press article. I'm a member of the "SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF WOODEN TOILET SEATS" an outgrowth of "The International Concatenated Order Of Hoo-Hoo" - a lumber fraternity, whose genesis dates back to 1892. Would like to establish contact with you. Gordon Graham
• 9/30 How far away from the house was the out house put? Was it different in each century? Thank you Marsha [Don't know exactly. Usually 50 to 100 feet. No, although in later centuries people were taller so for the same steps you could place it farther away!]
• 9/28 hey, heard you on the radio (97.1 )... interesting site.. lots of funny pics. My in-laws have a place in RoseCity, Michigan that has a two seater outhouse. Its no longer in use but i always thought it was funny. Dont think i would want to sit next to someone doing their business. When i get up there next, i will take pics and forward them on to you! keep up the good work!
• 9/26 Outhouse SMELLS!!! I just want our hothouse up north to last longer than five years. How do we get the contents down the hole to self compost? [Use a small amount of dirt layered over the top of the crap or use the proper kind of lime (see our FAQ page). Call a pumper to pump it out!]
• 9/6 I am a volunteer for the Little Loomhouse in Louisville, KY. The Little Loomhouse is a non profit organization dedicated to keeping the art of weaving alive. Anyway, the physical buildings are designated Landmarks- there are 3 cabins and a dilapitated outhouse that we fondly refer to as the 4th Historic Structure. Please click on the link below to view our 4th historic structure.
  http://www.littleloomhouse.org/pics.htm
  Anyway, our outhouse is in need of some major TLC. While surfing the Internet for outhouse restoration information, I came across your website. Since you seem to be the outhouse efficienado, I thought you might be able to tell us if you are aware of any grants or other charitable donations that might be availble for outhouse restoration.
  I appreciate any assistance you can offer and I totally enjoyed your website! [Sorry. Don't know of anything.]
• 9/5 [From Brazil!] Dear Mr. I´m a student and I´m going a research about: "Belo Horizonte´s bathroom: from Art Deco to contemporary constructions. This research intends to study the layout of bathroons, the characteristics of the design and materials used in metal pieces, ceramics, furnitures, accessories, wall and floor finishing and cielin, identifying contemporary characteristics and, if possible, identifying elements of the past that influence actual design. The knowledges obtained with the research "Belo Horizonte´s bathroom: from Art Deco to contemporary constructions" can subsidy, published, the work of designers and architects as well as the real state market, in addition, it will contribute with the producers of sanitary equipment and finishing. This research, also, intends to provide theoretical support in lectures, techinical publications and specialized magazines. Another aim of this research is to qualify students on this area.
  Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais - Brasil has 107 years.
  I study Interior Design in Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais - UEMG.
• 8/29 I am interested in receiving a catalog at my home. I've been all through the web site and I can't find where to sign up for a catalog. If you can't take care of this please let me know who to contact, or how to go about getting one. Thanks!! [Sorry, we don't have one. Internet or Mail Order only]
• 8/27 t shirts with a clever saying seem to be the rage with kids my daughters ages. 12-18. what better than an outhouse? just a thought.
• 8/27 I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed this information on outhouses." My Grandmother had an outhouse (a two seater --we were middle class country folks) and also we had real toilet tissue instead of the normal Sears Roebuck catalog. Oh those were the days--I'm just glad they are just a fond memory of my past. Thank you again.
• 8/24 the out house web site is wonderful...lacks only one thing,...We , too have a WPA built outhouse...cement floor and stool with wood cover...it is a one seater....
  Now it originally had a paper in a frame that the WPA put on the wall...had some sort of instructions on it...alas...my husband does not remember just what it said...all that remains is one half of the frame...I was so hoping someone of your houses had the information as to just what it said....
  keep up the good work....
  Preservationist Virginia in North Carolina
• 8/23 I collect Judaica bottles and found your email on the web as a bottle collector. I was wondering if you had or knew where I could get bottles with six-pointed Jewish Stars of David or bottles that say Kosher, maybe with Yiddish writing etc... I have seen them in all types from all over the world. Bitters, milk, seltzer/siphon, medicine, ink etc...
  Also, maybe you have Jewish related bottle tops, stoppers, lids, jars, labels etc...
  And just any interesting Judaica generally. [Curator's Comment: Huh? oy vay!]
• 8/11 I am looking for some historical pictures of outhouses with either Star or Sun on them. Can you help? [Curator's Comment: There are a few on the site with Stars but not sure about the Sun. I don't have time to look for them though. I just know they are there.]
• 8/10 Just read most of your outhouse site. Very informative, but it makes you wonder how people spend their free time.
  When we were kids growing up near Toronto, Canada, we always referred to the outhouse as a Cybowl (Pron. KAIBOWL). I haven't heard it called this anywhere else. I do recall writing a short story entitled "The Cybowl Monster" and a later sequel called "Kolchak the Night Stalker meets the Cybowl Monster." (This should give you an idea as to how long ago we were kids and for completists, I have unfortunately lost the tale to all eternity. It has been flushed, so to speak.) Thanks Michael Jones, [Curator's Comment: I have no spare time. All I do is maintain this web site!]
• 8/2 When we were in Alaska, we went to Pike Island. There is one outhouse on this Island. Inside the outhouse was a scoop with some kind of compost. There was absolutely no odor at all, and it is used by many, many tourists each day. Do you have any idea what could have been in this compost? We use lime in ours, and there is definitely an odor. Can you help? Thank you for your time. Trudy [Curator's Comment: Don't know but it sounds like an earth closet where earth is used to cover the crap. End result, no odor.]
• 7/28 I happened to visit the Gays Illinois 2 story outhouse after viewing a 20 minute segment that featured this on a show called Wild Chicago. around 1994.
  The articles in the glass case should be copied and put on the internet. Basically the building that used to be in front of that outhouse resembled many just like out of the movies like Gunsmoke. Business' on the bottom, and sleeping units on the top.
  The town is not that large and if I remember right the outhouse still shares a U>S> legal post office address and taxes are still paid by someone that owns the place. Im not sure what happens if you send a letter if it will get answered or not.
  The outhouse location: It is 100 feet to close in the summer, and its 100 ft too far in the winter. And always face the door to the EAST, so that the morning sun can warm the wood for the 1sst person in there. The Dickersons Crossville TN
• 7/24 Hi, I just happened upon your website , which is very fasinating, and had a question that maybe you could answer for me. I was wondering how old an outhouse hole has to be to be safe to dig around in it? We have one that was last used in the late 1950's, I'm not sure how old it is but i know the house is well over 100, when our current bathroom was instaled in the house. And also beside out house is what we call a little "ditch with water" which is also behind the remains of the outhouse. I have dug around in this ditch and found many little bottle and broken items. Do you think that maybe if the privy hole had at one time been emptied that they might have tryed to wash it down that ditch into a nearby creek? [Curator's Comment: In the old days, people had a slop bucket. They took the bucket out and through it into nearby trees and the animals would eat the slop. I don't know if that is where your stuff came from or not. Heed the warning that if you are going to dig a hole, be extremely careful to prevent the sides of the hole from collapsing onto you. If it is from the 50's, have at it. You will find lots of interesting things.]
• 7/18 You guys do not have the only outhouse races, this year we did our 16th annual outhouse races. Ours are done in the hot summer sun, a team is 4 people, 3 pushers and 1 rider who has to conplete an obsticle course. To see photos go to www.isanticountynews.com and then do a search for outhouse races. Your look they are a lot of fun. See Ya
• 7/18 Why are toilets called water closets? I work in the Plumbing Inspection section of the Building Department for the Town of Ocean City, MD and no one seems to know. I thought it was because they took an existing closet and plumbed the toilet in there creating a "water closet." [Curator's Comment: Hmmm. You may be correct. Don't know for sure.]
• 7/13 someone told me you have an exploding outhouse bank pleasesend me the correct web address. [Curator's Comment: It is located here!]
• 7/9 Just discovered this summary of my research on the "corner privy", a relic of the days when the Milwaukee Railroad operated between Morton and Tacoma, Washington USA. I'm flattered to find it here.

2004

2003

• 12/29 Hallo :), i want to create a link to your website in my directory. Please inform me if you don't want to get linked.
• 12/29 Thanks for the words [to the Poem The Specialist. We sell a recording of The Specialist on CD and Cassette in our Outhouses of America Tour on line store] I have been looking for years to find them.
• 12/18 Where may I obtain a recording of Billy Ed Wheeler singing That Little Old Shack Out Back. I can't find the one I had. Thanks Joe
• 12/17 I love the kleenex box holder. Could you tell me the price of one and what color choices are available? Thanks Fran
• 12/15 I've lived in Michigan all my life and never knew about that. And the people in my news group have been sticking me in our homepage "outhouse" for months now. :-)
• 12/14 I saw the gingerbread outhouse on your "burning down the outhouse" page, and was wondering if I could get plans that outhouse. Thank You John [We sell Outhouse plans in our store!]
  
• 12/12 Where oh where do we find entry forms for the [Outhouse] race?? [Here is the Race Information. The contact number is towards the bottom] A tie on the website would be nice. We have a party of four intent on competing in this prestigious event, and will need to be legal and all. Please send by reply email or snailmail to me
• 12/7 I have a pic of an outhouse that I would like have put on your website. How do I do it? [Send digital pictures and give permission for us to put them on the Tour]
• 12/7 hi my name is s w and is hearing impaired.. i am the new owner of outhouse enterprise.. i would like to join the america outhouse tour memeber.. pls send me some info to my email
• 12/2 What state has the most Outhouses? Trivia Q - looking for answer.
• 12/2 Dear Patti, I am wondering what the theme for this yr outhouse 2004 will be [Leap into the 11th Ever...] I would like a early start thinking this yr...... Now that im 50 things are slower .. Happy Holidays J. Elliott
• 12/1 [This guy is the real deal. They sent me a picture showing lots of items that I know came from Outhouse pits] My dad lives in Westcliffe, CO, a place with a lot of history dating to the mid-nineteenth century. One of his hobbies is looking at old photographs and maps, locating original out-house sites, and digging them up. He's got hundreds of items he's found in the bottom of these old holes. bottles, ivory toothbrushes, tokens, pottery, ceramic dolls, hair-pins, marbles, assay dishes (old mining town of Silver Cliff), etc. etc. It really is amazing what people lost or threw away.
  He asked me to investigate on the internet to see if anyone would be interested in some of the things he's found. He wants to sell off the collection, en masse. If you'd be interested in looking, drop me a mail. I'll send you a list of what he's got and a few photographs.
• 11/30 I am interested in purchasing this item [Outhouse Kleenex Box Holder]. Could you please respond with price and shipping time?
• 11/26 We plan to be rookie outhouse racers this year from Grand Rapids. Can you recommend a place to stay? Cheers, JDC
• 11/23 WE have been looking for information on Charles " Chic" Sale for years. about 50 years. It seems as how we may be some distant relation of Chic Sale. My father Was Clyde W. Sale, his father was John Wilmer Sale and was a cousin to Charles Sale. For some reason the nick name, chic has been applied to John, Clyde and Clyde Jr. ( my brother) age 76, so the chic goes back to about 1847.
• 11/23 I live in Michigan and I have some property in Kalkaska. Well I have no running water up there, so I was looking to get a outhouse up there. Do you know of anywhere I can buy one??
• 11/20 Hi John, Thanks for your quick response. I will indeed be exploring more of your website in the future. I just love it!
  I don't have a digital camera to send photographs of my outhouse, but have one or two family members who do. Maybe sometime in the future I can have them take a photograph ot two of it and send it your way. I don't think there are too many 'three-seater's' around.
  Do you know of a way to rid bottles of stains inside or can we try asking Charles Cook? I just think my bottles would look much better if I could clean them up. I have been searching for years for this answer and so far, no luck. I am wondering if maybe the origional owners of this farm (who's decendents I still know), threw all of their garbage into the bank of the creek instead of the outhouse. If so, that is my lucky break as I don't think I could ever climb down into that pit...haha!!!
  Take Care
• 11/18 I really got a kick out of your site and have listed it on the "O" page at www.michiganbackroads.com [They did!]
• 11/18 Hi there!! Great web-site!!
  We live on a 30 acre Hobby Farm in Wisc. with lots of animals and a brick-lined 10-15 foot deep outhouse attached to our garage. And.....it's a "Three Seater"!! Two seats for the adults and one lower seat for the kids. It's probably about 80-90 years old. We don't dig in the outhouse because we still sometimes use it, especially on muddy days and times when the electricity and well pump goes out. It's in great condition though, as we keep it up, and I have it decorated with great 'Outhouse' items including the always wonderful, "Outhouse Calendar". I even keep an outhouse book in the formal Parlour. Don't want folks to think we take life too seriously!! But, we also have a creek right next to the house that had been used (to a certain extent) as the household garbage dump many decades ago. When we first moved here 14 years ago my chickens unearthed it. We have discovered broken pottery and other things of little value, but also many wonderful bottles which are often in great shape.
  It was also interesting to read about the French Quarters connection. Been there twice (loved it) and am remotely related to David Livingston. (In fact, that's my dad's name too).
  I will keep your web-site in my favorites and you continue to enjoy your well deserved treasures from all your 'Digging'!! :-)
• 11/14 Hi! I enjoyed your web site :) I wonder if you can answer a trivia question for me? Which state has the most outhouses? Thanks! Suz
• 11/11 [Curator's Comment: And of all things, someone wants to work for me!]
  Hello,
  May I kindly ask you to forward my application to the jldr.com's owner?
  My name is xxx. I live in Kharkov, Ukraine. I am looking for a full-time remote job of a secretary, sales manager, support assistant, webmaster, translator, personal language coach, or project manager for $450/month. I am ready to work 6 days a week.
  What I can do for you: I can work with your incoming email, support your customers via Instant Messengers and your website (each site visitor will get individual treatment as at a real shop or office, so you will sell more), update content at your site, search the web (for new customers, for example), compile reports and texts for you, enter data, contact other websites for link exchange, organize a remote personnel agency for you, teach business Russian via the Internet, do something for you in Russia and Ukraine, etc.
  Also, if you have any other type of regular routines that you do not particularly like, I can do that instead of you. I learn new things quickly. It will be just as if you do that yourself. I will be in place of you, while your hands will be free for something more important and interesting.
  You will have the full transparency in my work. I will be sending you daily or weekly reports with time spent, work done, and results achieved.
  I'm 23 y.o. and have a university degree. My specialization is foreign languages, so my English is fluent. I have good PC and Internet user skills. I am hard-working and sociable.
  You will get replies to your emails within a few minutes and I will be online in an Instant Messenger available during all the workday. So, our communication will be almost instant. I will schedule my working time in accordance with your time zone.
  I have an experience of remote work for a USA company. They can recommend me and you may call them to check. I put my resume below. Also, I have a team who will do the work, but I will hold personal responsibility for everything done.
  Please let me know, if I may help your company.
• 11/7 Hi, I bought a book on the history of outhouses and found your address to join. The address is different from your site, so I hope it gets there. We have a wpa outhouse and still use it, and keep it clean and painted. I'm mailing the check tomorrow and plan on giving it to my husband for a Christmas present. He'll love it, we are proud of the history here. My kids got a kick out of it when I told them what I was planning to do. I said" Just think, In our eulogies you can write, belonged to the VFW and OUTHOUSE PRESERVATION SOCIETY". I can't think of a more proud send off!You should be getting my letter within a week. I've never wrote to Canada before so I'm gonna have to go into town and see if I need more than one stamp. Thanks so much for being there for this very important part of our past! Tammy Dewese
• 11/7 HI. REALLY ENJOYED YOUR SITE. I'M TRYING TO LOCATE A LENGTHY ARTICLE (FICTION OR FACT?) I ONCE HAD IN MY POSSESSION (?1980'S) WRITTEN ABOUT ALL OF THE MANY "OUTHOUSES" THIS PARTICULAR MAN HAD BUILT; HOW THEY WERE BUILT; WHAT DIRECTION THEY SHOULD FACE; DIFFERENT SIZES BUILT (UP TO A "10 HOLER" ONCE BUILT FOR A SCHOOL), AND MANY SUCH FACTS AND TRIVIA. WOULD YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW I COULD FIND THIS ARTICLE AGAIN? THANK YOU FOR ANY EFFORTS MADE
• 11/7 My husband tells me of a poem about the outhouse saying something about the "tortures of the icy seat" . I have had a wonderful time at your site but did not see any poem with that line in it. Does it ring any bells with you? You also have some neat treasures I will have to come back and acquire after my husband's surgery. Thanks for your help.
• 11/3 Heres a link to a real flying outhouse
• 10/31 UNCANNY!
  They made me tear my outhouse down.
  'Twas "inappropriate" in town.
  I sold it to a pal named John(!)
  When he was "flush." He lives upon
  The reservation, whence he grew.
  (Too bad his bride is not named "Loo").
  I said, "I'll help you when I can,"
  For I was privy to his plan.
  His "throne" is now electrified,
  With heat and lights installed inside.
  A catalog down on the floor,
  A crescent-moon upon the door.
  My pal is the pride of the Navajo Nation;
  He wired a head for a great reservation!
• 10/30 [Curator Comment: My absolute favorite comment or at least near the top of the Top 10 List!]
  Hey I just wanted to thank you for this wonderful page on Thomas Crapper... I had to do a report on him.. because I was in my science class and I almost tripped and fell over a backpack and I said " holy crap! " and So my science teacher told me that I should do a report over Thomas Crapper.. so here I am .. doing this report.. and your website really helped me out!! :) thank you!
  - Jennifer
  Tulsa, Oklahoma ( Freshman )
• 10/27 Interesting site KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! to bad just about everything up in Ramona & Julian, CA WENT UP IN FLAMES including hundreds of Outhouses in the residential sections not like they have much choice to use them considering there is no sewer system near there nearest one they could possibly hook up to is in Poway, CA. some of which could have qualified to be photographed for your tour have been going up there for years in years past when you went up there you really didn't have any choice throughout the 1980s to early 90's you had to either use an Outhouse or a porta potty & the OUTHOUSES were some of the NICEST LOOKING & CLEAN/MAINTAINED I HAVE EVER SEEN OR USED! same as in IL which I originally hail from + they were also as good as the ones in Wis. most of which remained etc have more than likely been ROASTED by now, the area probably doesn't smell all that great and ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN there probably doesn't smell all that great and ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN there won't POSSIBLY be enough septic systems available to replace all the damaged ones cause of course that and most of the companies that first installed them have LONG SINCE PULLED OUT/CLOSED not to mention the fact that the nearest treatment plant around here is in Escondido which CAN'T POSSIBLY START HANDLING WASTE FROM UP THERE!. so it's basically a fact or actually a 99.44% necessity that THEY'LL BE NEEDING THOSE PLANS OF YOURS! well at least maybe now they'll start putting up the SST variety either way just about everybody WILL NEED TO START BUILDING, USING THEM AGAIN!. so you might want to consider sending the blue prints that way just thought I should give you the heads up in case your wondering why your site traffic etc suddenly goes ballistic or into overload
• 10/25 Hi.......Ive been on about a hand full of digs in dumps and would like to learn more about digging privys. I live in Maine and about this time of the year seems to be the best time to spot old tinware on the ground. I was wondering if a soil test in certain areas would help find old privies. I haven't had any luck probing. I am using a 3/8 steel bar with a point and measures about 4 feet. Any digging tips on old cellars, how to locate privies and dump digging would be great.......Thanks Alot.......Mark
• 10/25 Can you please send me a book on the different types of outhouses? I'll send you a check also.
• 10/19 Where can a person buy plastic urinals for outhouses?
• 10/15 Hi. I happened to know the late Victor Hayes. I have some of his artwork. He was a best friend of my friends in Michigan. I was just surfing and found your site. My son has one of the Outhouses t-shirts. I don't think it is easy to find any of his artwork now though.
• 9/30 wish I had a picture to send when I was in Korea in 1957 we had an outhouse that had three doors marked : MEN, WOMEN, and OFFICERS
• 9/23 I am looking for shower curtians with outhouses on them. Could you tell me where I go search for items like this.
• 9/23 Will be going to a place that had a old mining community. There are some remnants of old cabins. Curious on how one would determine where the old outhouses would have been. Anything that one would look for that would give a clue?
• 9/21 We are doing our downstairs bathroom in Outhouses, Along with the orders I'm making I'd like to get the sayings & poems for the wall? Is this possible?
• 9/20 Regarding Privy Digging: I wanted to say thanks for the greatly informative site. I have a few questions: I have loved antique bottles for most of my life but have never really taken digging for them too seriously. The biggest experience was at a dump in Dallas TX where many others were digging ...some holes were 20 feet deep and seemed dangerous to me for the payoff. The dump dated from 1890s to around 1910 ....almost too new. It was neat to find paper products such as newspapers with dates on them still preserved though.
  I have been researching Sanborn maps and such for a few TX cities but obviously none compare with the population that New Orleans had during the mid 19th century. I would like very much to prospect for a hole or two in New Orleans ....is this something that you think would still be viable? That's if I can find one that you * haven't* been to! :) I understand that around 1860 or so that the population was around 170,000 ....this would offer many opportunities for discovery that probably wouldn't be exhausted for many decades to come even with many people scouting for them. I sure new sites come to be as well when construction/demolition takes place. Do you find the Sanborn maps to be extremely useful in your digs? What length of probe do you suggest for this type of investigation? Any suggestions would be very welcome since I missed the great bottle mania of the 60s and 70s. :(
• 9/12 Attached to the door of our outhouse is the name plate "Audi" from an Audi Fox.
• 9/9 Well, yer site shore is dif'ernt...I had to sit down and thank a whal...it wiped me out. I enjoyed the hole thang, even the thoughts of all them crawling spiders, bugs, and the snakes didn't bother me much. Y'all are a-doin' a great job, obviously sitting down on the job. Keep up the paperwork and I will visit, rest assured, you two holer soon. Bubba
• 9/8 Neat site! I enjoyed it. I have been looking for an Outhouse valance/curtains and a shower curtain. Do you know of any other sites that may have this?
• 8/23 Privy is a name they called the outhouse in Idaho. The Throne is a name I've heard people call it. A Place to go to get out of work.
• 8/20 I have a cross country ski shop in California. I have been dying to host an outhouse race. Every time I abring it up people think I am nuts. Can you give me some suggestion on how to get started so it could happen this winter.
• 8/14 I have been doing some research on behalf of my company, which does publicity for the Maine Office of Tourism, and found your Web site most entertaining.
  What I'm hoping you can help me with is determining if a three-story outhouse in Bryant Pond, Maine, is the only one known in America. I have been unable to find proof that any other such three-story privy exists. Could you please let me know if you have heard of any others? If not, we would like to use the outhouse on our Web site. Thank you for you