Outhouse plans

[Ted in NE-OH]

I am looking for plans for a W.P.A. Outhouse. I had one years ago and the wind blew it doun and now I want to
recreat it. Any Idea where to look or who has W. P. A. archives.

 

[ohiojoe]

Google is your friend.
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-us&q=wpa%20outhouse%20plans&ved=2ahUKEwiz3N7w-uT2AhXHZc0KHaHjDaoQsKwBKAB6BAhOEAI&biw=375&bih=747&dpr=3

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Most out houses ( called " Dunnys " here )
were built much the same way .
Your story made me recall an amusing Australian curse " May your chooks turn into Emus and kick your dunney down " .

 

[TomIn]

I can't find any actual building plans, but found a couple of links that should help


https://footnote.wordpress.ncsu.edu/2020/07/02/the-sanitary-privy-07-03-2020/
The Sanitary Privy

 

[Bruce(OR)]

Be aware of possible mistakes in the planning phase.
Untitled URL Link

 

[Ohio88]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyZcqnZ8aM8
Outhouse

 

[PJH]

If you fail to find plans, post again - we actually have a W.P.A. outhouse that is in pretty fair condition for its age, [no, we don't use it] and I would be glad to get some measurements for you. We have not destroyed this little building because it brings a lot of joy to folks who grew up in the era of outdoor plumbing, or plumbing at the end of the path.. Somewhere I have a picture of it, but I was unable to find it just now. I can take pictures too, if it will help you. I think I remember reading that a W.P.A. toilet would cost the homeowner a whopping $15 turnkey back in the day. . .

 

[ss55]

https://www.fths.org/wpa-outhouses-humble-but-historic/

In our area everything the W.P.A. built was stone including park shelter houses and cemetery fences. Many are still in use. I never knew they build wooden structures too.

 

[Sam Womer (PA)]

Here is a pic of the almost completed outhouse being built by our town Borough Street Crew. It will be next to the original log house in the middle of town as we celebrate 250 years since the towns founding. The architecture matches the house. It still needs to be chinked with mortar and the door installed. It will not be functional but for display only. Check it out, should last for a long time. SRW, president of Boro Council

 

[4wdtom]

I still have one that I keep in good repair and use during the 6 warmer months. Nothing like setting out with the door open and watching nature while doing your business. Maybe reading a book. When I first moved here into a little cabin there was only the outhouse and a good tip I read somewhere is to hang the seat over your wood stove and take it with you when you go out in the winter. Makes all the difference.

 

[teddy52food]

Check with the Amish. Make it with the 2 holes side by side & not one above the other!

 

[PJH]

You need to be very discreet when determining the needed hole size. Don't just walk up behind someone with a tape measure - you could get your ears boxed.

 

[the tractor vet]

Well they are not hard to come up with sizes , and a mental blue print . Now you c ould get fancy and make a His and hers side with a partition and for some fun place a micro switch under the new fancy seat on HE side that triggers A recording that says HEY Lady can ya use the other side i am painting down here .
---------------- No i did not come up with that one , this is what someone did at a company picnic years back where they had a double sided out house rest room . When had working for the company/ dealership this one cute girl/ woman that was somewhat stuck up / prude and we had this one salesman that was the company clown and always doing something off the wall. He saw her heading for the rest room / out house and he ran in the men's side , he lets her have enough time to probably get well seated and he stick his head down one of the holes in the men's side and says that real loud so all could here . all we ALL heard was a bloold cuertting (sp) SCREAM and her flying out the door off to her car .

 

[DaleinWV]

that question brought back memories of a humorous book from the 50's... The Specialist, by Chic Sales?

I enjoyed that one back in the day..

Dale, in WV

 

[Brown Dirt Cowboy]

I've heard that many a night listening to trucker radio. Me and Dammit Ray by Charlie Douglas. Can be found on YouTube.

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 13:22:32 03/27/22) You need to be very discreet when determining the needed hole size. Don't just walk up behind someone with a tape measure - you could get your ears boxed.

his is the type of useful information that sets Yesterday's Tractors apart from the rest.

 

[Ted in NE-OH]

Could you take pictures of inside walls. Private message me please.

 

[Texasmark]

Took the words out of my mouth...before I read your reply I was going to suggest a 2 story....have seen pictures of them...fact/fiction I don't know.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Building an outhouse is not exactly rocket science. Anybody can build a box with a hole in the bottom and set it over a pit dug in the ground.

I assume a "WPA" outhouse is a specific style/design of outhouse. Not just a box with a hole in the bottom set over a pit dug in the ground.

https://www.historycolorado.org/wpa-privy-1935-1943

This post was edited by BarnyardEngineering on 03/30/2022 at 06:25 am.

 

[rossow (mn)]

One thing to remember is that many outhouse doors opened IN rather than OUT. That was so the occupant could keep a foot against the door to prevent being surprised by a visitor. Much harder to push open a door with a foot holding it closed than to pull one open.