The old church outhouse

Posted 08.14.2008 by daphne

Off of Indian River Drive in Brevard County, Florida, there used to be a church. It was built in the late 1800's, and it played a huge part in the community in which it stood. It was used for prayer, of course; but it was also was used as a school, a public hall, a polling station, and even an observation tower during WW II.

Many people passed through this church's doors during its time, and many of those people needed to poop. Therefore church officials erected an outhouse in the church's backyard--a four-seater. Over the years, the church changed hands, and so did the outhouse. But while the community continued to need a church, progress rendered the outhouse behind it obsolete. The outhouse faded into a forgotten mass of planks, rendered useless through decades of neglect.

This month, though, the remains of the outhouse are going to take a little trip. Historians interested in the outhouse have decided to move its remains and restore it to its heyday, as a reminder that once upon a time, there was no flush button. With the help of The Durable Restoration Company, the outhouse will now be a public reminder of yesteryear.

Debbie Coles is Brevard County's Natural Resources environmental program manager, and she thinks the outhouse will be interesting to children who have no idea what an outhouse is. "I think the kids take it for granted that they can flush," she remarked, "and they don't have to think about where it goes."

I think this is nice. The multiple-butt outhouse is indeed a piece of Americana whose time has come and gone; and to see younger generations contemplate one, wondering how it must be to loaf one out next to another person, would be interesting. My only question is, if this was the only outhouse behind the church, what difference did one or four seats matter to a two-sex species? I'd be curious to see if this is mentioned in the little plaque that will most likely sit in front of it once completed.

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The Shit Volcano (3740) -- 08.14.2008

I wonder exactly where on Indian River Drive in Brevard County with was. My sister lives there, and there are about three million Indian River Drives.

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I found Jesus! He was behind the sofa the whole time!

Thunderbox (884) -- 08.14.2008

Perhaps they needed a 4-holer because they went to use it a pew load at a time.

prarie doggin (2283) -- 08.14.2008

Was the four holer just for the priest and the three altar boys?

turdfan (159) -- 08.14.2008

Every time I see something about an outhouse it reminds me of my very pleasant introduction to outhouses in Colorado.Ah, sitting there in the nice cool air, looking out the door at a beaver pond, and listening to your turds make that unique "thud" as they collided with the big pile of turds below. Then, the gentle splash of pee as it hit the turdpile. If there was someone in there with you, you could hear their turds and pee also. Those were the good ol' days!!!!

ChiefThunderbutt (916) -- 08.14.2008

With four guys you could shit to accompanying organ music.

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Eat chilies and feel the burn!!

Thunderbox (884) -- 08.14.2008

Organ music, Chief? Are you talking about playing with skin flutes?

daphne (3667) -- 08.14.2008

You know what also just occurred to me? There must have been some poopreports during this time that would have been outrageous to read. I bet there were shameful shitters then, too; there must have been times someone raced home in his old rickety car to use the homestead shitter instead of the 4-seater due to a fear of crapping next to someone.

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.....hugging bunnies since 1969
www.daphneszoo.com

ChiefThunderbutt (916) -- 08.15.2008

Thunderbox.........I was thinking along the lines of percussion instruments but your suggestion sounds OK also.

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Eat chilies and feel the burn!!

JuicyPooter (not verified) -- 08.17.2008

I just LOVE your site. So many interesting articles about poop. Or, poo as I like to refer to it as.

mark of stain (9) -- 08.17.2008

I was informed by someone who would know that every outhouse had at least two seats. He didn't know why. Another person said it wasn't for multiple users but to have differently sized holes for differently sized butts. Yet another said that the crescent moon cut into the door indicated a women's house while a star was a men's pooper. Each fact was probably true in a particular locale.

daphne (3667) -- 08.17.2008

That's interesting, Mark. I wonder if this outhouse had different hole sizes. The ones in the picture seem different, but it could be because the plank is going farther away from the camera.

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.....hugging bunnies since 1969
www.daphneszoo.com

powersoak (not verified) -- 08.23.2008

Chief Thunderbutt, with 4 going at once, the noise might drown out the organ music.