Why Are There Holes In The Doors And Other Fun Outhouse Trivia
Ever wonder? We have the answer to this and other questions, plus outhouse facts and trivia!
It’s hard to imagine having to grab a lantern and head outside, no matter what the season, temperature or weather conditions, to “take care of business.” But that’s exactly what many folks in Colonial times had to do. While outhouses are still in existence today, we thankfully rely on the comforts of indoor plumbing.
Here are some fun facts and trivia about outhouses.
Holes In Outhouse Doors Weren’t For Ventilation
There are many theories on why holes were cut in outhouse doors and the significance of their shape.
One theory is that the holes in the doors of outhouses were designed to let light from a lantern shine out at night. This would alert everyone that the outhouse was occupied.
It was believed the reason for the hole was to differentiate which outhouse was for the men and which was for the women, although this is disputed. Supposedly, the women’s had a crescent Moon cut into its door and the men’s had a star. If there were both shapes? It was to be used by the whole family.
The more popular belief is that the crescent shape was simply a way to open and close the door from the inside, as it seemed using expensive latching hardware would be waste on such a humble structure. Even when latches were added, the crescent Moon tradition lived on and is now a signature decoration for this piece of Americana.
Outhouse Sizes Varied
Outhouses were usually 3 to 4 feet square by 7 feet high with no window or heat. A well-built outhouse usually had a vent along the roof to vent out the chamber and a pipe from the box through the ceiling to vent out the gases. To avoid the odor reaching the home, most outhouses were built between 50 and 150 feet from the main house, often facing away from the house. They had either one or two chamber holes inside — one for the adults and a smaller one for the children.
Outhouses Were Built By Teams
Teams of outhouse builders built most of the outhouses in rural areas during Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration – the WPA — which employed millions of out-of-work men. This project was not without its controversy, however, as its critics complained of wasteful government spending. Others praised the program for helping to create better standards of hygiene in these rural areas.
Outhouses Were Also Called “Backhouses”
Did you know: Outhouses were often referred to “backhouses” because they were located “out back” from the main house.
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- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
We live off grid and I have to say I prefer the outhouse, especially with Grandkids! No plugged toilets! We use cedar sawdust and surprisingly there is no bad odor. The top six inches is screened in so no insects get in, so is the ‘moon’. The weather is mild here so it’s not bad to use year round. It’s easy to clean and we keep solar light in a bucket near the door with another small bucket on the wall to put it in when you’re using the outhouse.
Yea I’m thinking about crawling into one for personal needs.
I remember going to the families farm in Berlin, Ky. seeing the ole outhouse [. Think it was a two seater
I found an old stained glass window in the chicken coop when I moved here. I couldn’t understand why anyone would put such a beautiful piece of art in between a stack of doors in the coop. A couple of ears ago the original owners stopped for a visit. They asked if the outhouse was still here. I said, “Yes.” They asked if the window was still in it. I said, “No.” Then the light bulb came on and I realized that is where the window came from. Must be someone was afraid it would get stolen when they weren’t there. It seems the original family never said they were going to the outhouse. They said they were going to church.
It doesn’t matter which way the T.P. rolls. Just so I don’t have to use newspaper to wipe like when I still lived on the farm.
There is a double-wide ‘house’ in the Saline Valley of California (next to Death Valley). There are two seats, one blue and one pink, next to each other. TP is supplied (if you bring it with you), but so also is a corn cob! And the door…there is none…it opens to the desert view (away from the camp area)…you can watch the jets from Edwards Air Base fly by…and see the smile on the pilot’s face!
We had one on our farm until the 60s when we finally got running water. But we also had to use one at school. I am one of six kids and we all went to the same country school, grades 1-8. There was a 2-holer for the boys and a 2-holer for the girls, not far from the barn where we tied up our horses we rode to school. They waited there all day for us.
When we needed to go to the “restroom” to wrote our name on the chalkboard, went outside and erased it when we came back. I don’t recall any extraordinary incidents, but who knows. The good old days!
Exactly the case with my grandparents’ farm here in North Dakota. They didn’t have indoor plumbing until the 60s, either.
This year for Christmas, because we can’t go see our relatives, my parents are taking me camping. The only bathroom at the campgrojnd is an OUTHOUSE! I’ve never used one and I’m scared to. I read that black widow spiders build webs under the seats, to catch all the flies that are attracted to… you know. How should I protect myself? I don’t want to get bit on the butt 🙁
Well I wouldnt want to get bit anywhere by one of them. However I think the camp grounds keeper sprays for spiders when the clean and supply the outhouse if not. Black widows are very 534 and and. Territoriald and dont like confrontation I’m sure so you will be alright .
There was no tp shortage; folks used the Sears catalog
We had a one-holer until the mid 50s with the usual catalogs for TP. I can remember it being moved to various places around the yard. Years later a lilac bush grew huge and tall like a tree and we realized the roots must have grown into an old pit which fertilized it. The following story however took place at a friend’s cabin with an outhouse. During a picnic where much beer was imbibed someone hollered that there was a snake down the hole. One fellow grabbed his shotgun. One blast killed the snake but caused an eruption of the contents of the pit. Took a while to get the outhouse and the guy cleaned up with much laughter. He never did live that down.
Betty, Oh my goodness! Thank you for sharing.