Outhouses Are Now "In"

Outhouses Are Now "In" AG WORLD 27-4-24 The time has come for outhouse appreciation, says Dottie Booth of Jamison, Penn., who started preserving the history of outdoor privies 14 years ago. She has since made a business out of her hobby, selling photographs of picturesque outhouses on posters, note cards, playing cards and various other outhouse-themed products. People who buy Booth's items often share amusing anecdotes so she wrote a book called"Nature Calls: The History, Lore and Charm of Outhouses" that features personal accounts as well as historical fact, outhouse trivia, frequently asked questions, and photos of outdoor biffies. The subject is treated seriously, not as "bathroom humor." "The book includes pictures of outhouses from around the world, in places like India and Greece. There is a chapter in the book about presidential and celebrity outhouses, too," Booth says. "There are also a couple of pictures of two-story outhouses in locations like Minnesota and northern Maine where deep snow would sometimes make the first floor inaccessible in winter. The seats on the top level were staggered with the seats on the lower level so that the same pit could be used." Most outhouses had two holes (seats) but there were also four-seaters and six-seaters, according to Booth. In fact, since writing the book, she became aware of an eight-hole outhouse that accommodated a large group of farm workers who often needed to use the facilities all at the same time when coming in from working in the fields. Outdoor latrines are a part of every family's history, and most older people have at least one funny story about them, according to Booth. For instance, some people remember using corncobs instead of paper. Booth is a member of the Outhouse Preservation Society that was established in 1994 and eventually led to the establishment of "The Outhouse Museum," which opened last summer in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. The museum boasts over 3,000 artifacts and collectibles pertaining to outhouse lore. Outhouses are even catching on as lawn decorations. Individuals are either preserving original outhouses or building new ones to use as storage sheds. "There are people paying a lot of money - as much as $6,000 - to buy original outhouses through auctions and on Internet sites like eBay," says Booth. Booth's book sells for $12.95. She welcomes additional photos and stories from readers. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dottie Booth, Nature Calls, Ltd., 1538, Springfield Court, Jamison, Penn., 18929 (email: ntrcallz@aol.com) or The Outhouse Museum, Rossignol Cultural Centre, Box 940, 205 Church St. Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada B0T 1K0 (ph/fax 902 354-3067; email: rossignolcc@auracom.com, website: www.outhousemuseum.com).

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