Auction Listing
The Outhouse – As American As Apple Pie
At one time in our country’s historic past, outhouses were commonplace and every residence and business had at least one of them. With the advent of modern plumbing, most have fallen to decay or merely eliminated. Most people over the age of 40 have encountered an outhouse experience when visiting Grandma. Most people over the age of 60 can tell you one story after another of walking to the outhouse in the middle of the night with snow up to their knees. Maybe it wasn’t a great experience but it’s part of our history that we don’t want to forget.
The outhouse was also known by different names: the privy, the john, the throne and the garden house just to name a few. They came in many shapes and sizes. The old two-holer was a common site, however few these days realize what a two-holer was designed for. The first hole was of a size to accommodate adults while the second hole was smaller for children. Most children learned quickly not to sit on the big hole.
The two-story outhouse is another style that few understand. Gays, IL is well-known for their 1800’s two-story outhouse and it is even listed on the historic register for the town. Two-story models were often attached to two-story houses, hotels or apartments. Instead of the residents of the second floor having to walk downstairs in the middle of the night, they could take the catwalk out the second story door that lead right over to their second-story outhouse. Obviously the holes in the first floor and second floor were offset.
The crescent moon has become the shape most recognized on an outhouse but in early years there was also a model with a star. Taking a lantern into the outhouse was not a wise move due to the gasses present inside. In order to let some light into the outhouse, there was often a hole cut into the door to let light in.
The moon on the outhouse indicated that it was the “women’s” outhouse. The moon was an ancient symbol for Luna, meaning womanhood. The star or sunburst design was a symbol for Sol and the male counterpart. Rarely is an outhouse seen with a star on it. The women’s outhouse was typically better maintained while the men’s outhouse usually fell into disrepair. Eventually the men started using the women’s and by the later nineteenth century, the gender identification was lost by most.
Typical items to be found in an outhouse were a bucket of corncobs, which would be used as toilet paper. If toilet paper was available, it was often stored in a coffee can with rice in the bottom to keep it dry. The rice would absorb any moisture. Often there was a bucket of lime sitting in the corner with a scoop. After the occupant had done their business, so to speak, a scoop of lime was thrown in to the hole to start the decomposition process and keep the odor down. Of course we can’t forget the Sear & Roebuck catalog. This was used as reading material and toilet paper when the reading was done.
Ironically, the extinction of the outhouse was initiated by an English plumber by the name of Thomas Crapper in the mid 1800’s. While he wasn’t the first person to invent a “water closet”, he certainly did his best to promote it. Even today the company is still in business selling plumbing supplies. You can see some of the more ornate fixtures and their history on the website at www.thomas-crapper.com.
The American Farm Heritage Museum has made it their mission to preserve our rural heritage and the American outhouse should not be left out. After all, every single farm had one. On October 14 the American Farm Heritage Museum will be holding their first Outhouse Festival at the museum’s grounds south of town. This will be held in conjunction with the Family Fall Festival.
There will be many different outhouses on display and many of those will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the museum for further improvements. The outhouses are of new construction and made in various types. Most will be non-functional and are only for decorative purposes or to be used as tool sheds. The auction will be held at 2 PM and conducted by Aumann Auctions of Nokomis. This is sure to be an entertaining event and will be something to witness even if you don’t need an outhouse for your backyard.
Along with the outhouse displays there will be crafters, outhouse trivia games and other outhouse activities. Be sure to stop by the National Outhouse Festival on October 14 to pay homage to an American tradition.
LIST OF OUTHOUSES
Outhouse 1: This would make a great garden shed. Constructed with new lumber, the building can easily be fitted with shelves and hook to accommodate a wide variety of uses. This non-functional outhouse has a green architectural shingle roof and has been coated with urethane.
Outhouse 2: This is the Cadillac of all outhouses! This one will make you wish you DIDN’T have indoor plumbing. This building is sheeted with OSB then covered with genuine cedar lap siding. A protective coating has been applied to help preserve the look. This one is a real beauty!
Outhouse 3: Children misbehaving? Lock them in the outhouse! This unit might not provide much protection but it will sure get a lot of laughs.
Outhouse 4: The deer hunter special! Take this one to the woods and have a seat! You can sit inside and when you finished with business, take a seat on the roof to bring in the elusive buck.
Outhouse 5: The outhouse that NO John Deere collector should be without. Make the neighbors green with envy when you bring this collectors item home. Painted in the popular JD colors, even the leaping deer couldn’t pass up jumping over the moon for this one. Wouldn’t this look fantastic sitting in your flower garden!
Outhouse 6: The camo special! This outhouse was designed to go right to the timber. This is a functional model and even has flip down sides so the hunter can shoot from inside. The camo paint scheme will allow the outhouse to hide, even from the hunter.
Outhouse 7: Mooooooooo! What more can we say? It’s a black and white spotted Holstein model complete with a tail and a cowbell for the front door. This would be a lovely addition to your flower bed or would make a great bus stop for the kids at the end of the lane.
1st Annual Outhouse Festival Auction
Oct 14, 2006
2:00 pm Central
At the American Farm Heritage Museum Showgrounds
Greenville, IL
Presented by the American Farm Heritage Museum. Buy an outhouse at the auction and your purchase will count as a tax-deductible donation to a non-profit organization. Don’t miss this spectacular one-of-a-kind auction!
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