Outhouses I've Known

• Vision

• The Outhouse

• Jiggle That Thang

• An Old Family Tradition

• Outhouse in the Outfield

• The Contest

Photo by Margaret Walls

Our outhouse was made of rough sawn oak lumber. It had a diamond shaped cutout over the door for ventilation. It was a typical "two holer" with the bench at a comfortable height for adults. Going to the john was a private matter, then the same as now. The two holes were just to give a choice of sizes. One was adult sized and one slightly smaller. You used whichever one suited your fancy--or actually the one that fit your fanny!

The view from either of these was the backside of the door--but it could be much more than that. It could be a hideaway where you couldn't be seen--it could also be a place where you could see a farm day beginning, progressing or ending by looking out through the wide cracks and knotholes.