I thought I'd make this it's own thread.  I've never done this before, so who knows how this will work.

Please, let's start new threads so the old ones don't get too backed up.

Thanks,

Linda Trent

Original posts on this topic from "Looking forward to 2008"

Joanna Jones
Posts : 2   Posted 12/12/2007      
I had been asked by spectators, what happened if you were away from home, in town, and had to use the bathroom.  Were there public privies, or privies behind businesses for customers to use?  I did a Google books search for privies and am winding my way through several thousand documents concerning the regulation of and lawsuits concerning privies, but have not found my specific answer.  I'm going to refine my search I think.
Thanks,
Joanna Jones

hanktrent
Posts : 123   Posted 26/12/2007      

Quote :

Joanna Jones wrote : what happened if you were away from home, in town, and had to use the bathroom.  Were there public privies, or privies behind businesses for customers to use?

Not easy to research, but here are a couple of data points, the first of which I just found yesterday.

The first is from Sunshine and Shadow in New York, by Matthew Hale Smith, 1869 p. 365-366:

This is talking about conditions among the poor of New York city, so I'm not sure what the implication is... that other homes kept their outdoor privies locked? That more upscale people were polite enough not to use the privies of other homes? Anyway...

Quote :

The vaults and water-closets are disgusting and shameful. They are accessible not only to the five or six hundred occupants of the building, but to all who choose to go in from the street. The water-closets are without doors, and privacy is impossible. Into these vaults every imaginable abomination is poured. The doors from the cellar open in the vault, and the whole house is impregnated with a stench that would poison cattle.

The second is mentioned in the infamous My Secret Life, concerning 19th century England. The author mentions seeing women in the city going down an alley or to a secluded area of a park, and simply squatting to pee in "public," though of course to his dismay, nothing private was usually visible, with long skirts.
Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Bill
Posts : 894 Posted 26/12/2007

Quote :

hanktrent wrote: Simply squatting to pee in "public," though of course to his dismay, nothing private was usually visible, with long skirts.

Hank,

My wife tells me, above all issues of authenticity; the ease of performing necessary bodily functions is the single best reason to wear proper period under gamments. Oh yeah, she says they also make the clothing fit better.

In Harper's Ferry there is a two story privy next to the boarding house. The last time I looked the partition between the first a second level was gone. It seems the first level would be available for anyone on the street or visiting the stores.  
Bill Rodman
wrodman1@aol.com

chatrbug
Posts : 274 Posted 27/12/2007      
Where at in the boarding house are you talking of? Im trying to remember if I have seen a partition there or not. i dont think there is one there anymore. I recall coming down teh stairs and seeing the offices that were being used for provost. Im going to have to look next time Im there.

Period appropriate drawers are an absolute must have.. especially when your in a confined portapot! They can truley be the worst when it comes to ones hoops. And we wont even get into the discussion on if someone was aiming or not!!!!  Lets just say that handicap bathrooms are a blessing for me!
Dulcie White  

--Last edited by Linda Trent on 2007-12-28 10:40:36 --

Speaking from experience, I don't think just a casual stroll down a path and a squat will cut it.  There are still 'underthings' to arrange so as not to soil said underthings.  I don't see how anyone could carry off the 'squat and go' method described without dampening a couple of petticoats and the split drawers unless they absolutely had nothing on under the cage crinoline...no drawers and no underpetti.

Trish Hasenmueller...new member to the forum but seeing lots of friends here

Welcome Trish!

Thanks, Ken.  Sorry to make my first post so, uh, earthy.

An article from The Times in London, 1851 states:

Quote :

The Council of the Society of Arts on the 14th of May requested the following noblemen and gentlemen to act as a committee for establishing forthwith a certain number of model water-closets and urinals in public thoroughfares, with the object of proving that these public conveniences, so much wanted, may be made self-supporting...

Further...

Quote :

1.That these conveniences be established on a moderate scale in connexion with shops, in some public thoroughfares, and be called 'Public Waiting-rooms.' 2.That the public waiting-rooms for men and women be established in distinct shops, on opposite sides of the street. 3.That in each shop there be a waiting-room, having two classes of water-closets and urinals, for the use of which a penny and two pence should be charged. 4.That each set of waiting-room be provided with a lavatory for washing hands, clothes' brushes, &c., at a charge of twopence and threepence. 5.That each set of waiting-rooms have a superintendent and two attendants. 6.That the charges for the use of the lavatories, water-closets and urinals should include all attendance, and be publicly affixed in the shop. 7.That the police should be requested to cause these establishments to be visited from time to time.

It also states that...

Quote :

The shops which appear to be most suitable for waiting-rooms for ladies are staymakers', bonnet-makers', milliners', &c.  Those most suitable for gentlemen's waiting-rooms are hairdressers', tailors', hatters', taverns' &c.

I know this is 19th century England, but worth the read.

Respectfully,
Frank Hendrix