As we all strive to get back to a simpler time, learn some of the skills known by our forefathers, and learn to do many things differently....we are in a constant search for ways to conserve, to cut back, to do more while using less.
Those that came before us were doing a lot of these things, not out of choice but out of necessity. They made do with what they had and tried to improve the quality of their lives any way they could. Many of our modern conveniences were due in no small part to the small comforts of the times, primitive as they were.
Such was the case with the indoor bath room. Until indoor plumbing was fully accepted, the common outdoor toilet was the order of the day. Be it in rural areas or in most cities...it was often there to be seen. They were so common, no one even noticed them. Although the path to their door was often well worn, and found without much trouble...they were indeed not the most comfortable or pleasant place to spend any time
These necessary little houses where so many spent countless hours through the years, often with a Sears catalog or other appropriate reading material, went by many names...such as Moon House, privvy, library, two seater and the powerful moniker "Thunderbox", my personal favorite!
Recently in San Antonio, there was an art exhibit of decorated Thunderboxes, shown in a glory not known in the times of their common use. Here are just a few of the decorations and dressing up of these lowly "out houses".
I have a feeling that the artist did NOT intend for these little beauties to be used as intended! That's just a guess on my part, but I'm pretty sure that you would meet with some very strong objections if you were to approach them with a purposeful look in your eye!
Anyway, that's all I wanted to show you...and believe me...if you ever see one of these Thunderboxes in my back yard it will NOT be decorated to this extent and most importantly, it WILL be open for business!
Now, let's get a fresh cup of coffee, my friend!
19 comments:
Good morning Jim. That's funny, I never heard it called the Thunderbox! In Europe, my grandmother had one and I was petrified of the thing. Felt like something awful was going to suck you right in!
They have plastic ones at carnivals around here, but they call them potty's :)
Thanks for the smiles today.
Lydia
Morning Jim;
I was 7 when we got inside plumbing-ours sure did not look like art work.Thanks for sharing.The advanced "Porta-potty" on construction sites gets pretty ripe in the Flordia sun, if you know what I mean.
I've saved old barn wood from around here and plan to build a outhouse. It will be used as a storage shed for my gardening tools. I just like the looks for an old outhouse.
Those are some pretty fancy ones, I like the one with the flag on front and the chickens on the side.
Thanks for sharing these pictures.
Blessings,
Kelle
Morning Hermit,
Nice art work, thanks for sharing.
time for one more refill then off for hitch and trailer.
Have a great day
JoJo
My first wife's folks had one that they used until the early '80's.
The only reason they stopped was 'cause they moved into town and the new residence had indoor plumbing.
I remember using it when we would visit them....January in Wisconsin, using an outhouse, now that's an experience.
Thunderbox...heheheh!!! love those pics man, thanks for the laugh my friend.
Hey Lydia
Yeah, the porta-potties that they ise now days are not too pleasant for sure...
Hey,thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Dafthermit
My pleasure, my friend. I'm glad you got the laptop going again!
Hey Tony
Then you have aworking experience with these beauties and you're right! They did NOT look like works of art!
Ripeness did seem to follow them around, and the modern porta-potties are not much better!
Hey, thanks for the visit!
Hey Kelle
I thing that one made from old barn wood would be a good looking storage shed! Just be sure to put the moon on the door!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey JoJo
Finally going to get "HITCHED" , huh? I guess that means the trailer will soon follow you home.
Hey, you have a good day and thanks for stopping in!
Hey Eddie
Not an experience I want to have up North! I remember reading on one blog that someone said to keep the seat inside by the stove during the winter and take it with you when making that draded trip. Made sense to me!
Thanks for dropping by, my friend!
Hey Bullseye
glad you enjoyed the pics! I had never heard the expression "thunderbox" until just recently! Kinda fits, though...
Thanks, buddy, for dropping by!
Those are great!
I think they'll be making a comeback...
I prefer and old skool outhouse to those plastic potties any day.
Thanks for the coffee...
Hey Maitreya
I think you may be right about them making a comeback! I like the old fashioned outhouses over the new stguff as well.
Hey, thanks for the visit!
Thanks for the ideas HJ...you can bet any outtie in my yard would be gussied up like a single lady going to a country dinner and dance! Pretty and useful to boot.
Pass some of that coffee HJ, gonna be a long day in the sun here!
Hey Momma
Was wondering where you were this morning! You know, with a good coat of paint and a LOT of fresh lime to sweeten the airt...these little jewels wouln't be too bad! Bets going in the woods, I'm thinking!
The thing I remember most abouty them is how the "grand daddy long legs" spiders would group together in the corner!
If you waited until someone notused to country life and was afraid of spiders went in, gave them a minute to get settled, then ran up and slapped the side wqhere the spiders were...the spiders would scatter all over the inside and the person inside would exit in a hurry!
Ahh...the joys of a mis-spent youth in the country in the summer!
Thanks for coming by, my friend!
Cool. Very cool. My late lovely Aunt Evie had an outhouse until 1975. I loved her and her home was my favorite place to visit. She was very poor but I didn't realize it until I was much older. She raised her own chickens, gathered the eggs, made her own bread, quilted - I still use one of her beautiful quilts - and had a big garden every season. She was pretty self sufficient. Two indulgences I recall - picking up an RC Cola at the little country store when she went to the post office and making Mississippi Mud from scratch. I wish she was still around so I could ask her lots of questions. Thanks for the privvy memories, although they be fancy ones!
Hey Ginger...
sounds a lot like my Grandma King, only her weakness was coca-cola! One of my favorite memories of her house was the fact that she had an old tub out back, covered with a piece of tin. Under the tin, she grew earthworms which she would feed to her pet turtle.
Of course, she would allow my cousin and I to raid the worms when we were going fishing.
Good memories...hey, thanks for coming by!
My grandma had a two seater with boxes of comics for those who needed to dally a bit. There was a giant bed of daylilies just in front so the door could be left open - just listen for the rumble of cars on the gravel road for safety sake. We plan on building one for back-up in event of anothe prolonged power outage. Ours is going to be diguised as a shed - with a *closet* at end. I wish I had just a few of those old comics, hear they are very collectable now.
Hey Stephanie
amazing how many memories these little places conjur up with many of us! I guess we are more alike tha we think!
I think that having one as a back up is a great idea! Think of the memories your kids will have to carry with them in future years!
Hey, thanks for stopping by, my friend!
Um, man I'm just sure there has to be a joke come out of the crapper with the cock painted on the goat's back, but... darned if I'll be the one to start the ball rolling!
Hey Nephew...
You're right! There probably is a joke in there somewhere, but we won't there.
Thanks for coming by tonight!
I was never a fan of having to use the ole thunderbox but I did have a bathroom decorated w/them. Also had checks w/them on them. I figured if I had to give my money away to debtors, I could,at least,let my true feelings be known! Enjoyed the pics.
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