How do i find evidence of an old outhouse

[jolteon]

Hi I'm Derek how do I find evidence on an old property I'm in southern New York. My home was built in 1802. I found a Great Depression cache next to the old well in broken glass 2 years ago it is farmers country so I'm wondering how do I find the old outhouse.

 

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[Indian Steve]

If the house is still standing, go to the back door and look out 50 to 75 feet. Look for rectangular or square depression. Sometimes you can even make out the old path to the outhouse. If it is not obvious, get or make a probe and start probing . Outhouse holes are much softer than the surrounding ground. Good Luck.

 

[aquanut]

Follow your nose!

 

[dieselram94]

Follow your nose!

This method will lead you to the white house, not the outhouse! Lol!

sent from a potato...

 

[nsdq]

the grass may be a bit darker in color

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Where the outhouse stood in back of my farmhouse, there's a noticeable depression in the ground. I know that's where it was because when I was a kid, I always checked under the seat to make sure there were no spiders there awaiting my positioning.....

 

[jolteon]

Thx I see a noticeable depression like drop 8 x 4 feet. Would that be it should I run the metal detector
Is it sanitary ?
I hope there is a cache $$$$$$

 

[dieselram94]

Thx I see a noticeable depression like drop 8 x 4 feet. Would that be it should I run the metal detector
Is it sanitary ?
I hope there is a cache $$$$$$

That's probably the spot. Should be sanitary. You will find out soon if it isn't!

sent from a potato...

 

[aquanut]

Where the outhouse stood in back of my farmhouse, there's a noticeable depression in the ground. I know that's where it was because when I was a kid, I always checked under the seat to make sure there were no spiders there awaiting my positioning.....

You had seats?

 

[SusanMN]

You had seats?

No seats in ours, just TWO holes in a long plank, so you could bring a buddy. That way if one or the other fell in, there was someone to pull you out.

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Jolteon..yes that area should be very sanitary..that stuff breaks down fast in the ground and decomposes quite harmlessly-given that it has been out of service for quite a while. I did that research myself before my first privy dig. You did not mention how much of that 1802 property you have access to...but believe me-myself and MANY others on this site would LOVE to hunt that dirt,specially if it has been unmolested. So good luck..HH..and keep us posted! thx ddf

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Relatively healthy trees and brush.

 

[shawninNY]

Joe , there will be several outhouses since the home is from 1802! providing there is room for them , try using a probe 4' long 1/4 rod , push into ground ( as stated by others privys will be much softer than surrounding soil) good luck keep us posted

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

If you find one plant a tiki torch and enjoy free lighting

 

[Indian Steve]

Back in the 70s, I shared a log home on 11 acres of land with several other people {hippies}. $35 a month rent, running water in the kitchen, garden hose hanging over wooden pallet in basement for shower and outhouse down the hill beside the barn. The hole eventually filled up so I dug a new one behind the barn and shoveled about a foot of dirt over the old hole and rerouted the path around the barn to the new house. One guy that lived there was in a real rush to get to the outhouse and cut the corner of the path, stepped where he shouldn't have and ended up to his armpits in you know what. We let him holler for a while before we tossed him a rope and pulled him out. We sent him to the creek to wash off before we let him come back home. He never cut corners again!

 

[dieselram94]

Back in the 70s, I shared a log home on 11 acres of land with several other people {hippies}. $35 a month rent, running water in the kitchen, garden hose hanging over wooden pallet in basement for shower and outhouse down the hill beside the barn. The hole eventually filled up so I dug a new one behind the barn and shoveled about a foot of dirt over the old hole and rerouted the path around the barn to the new house. One guy that lived there was in a real rush to get to the outhouse and cut the corner of the path, stepped where he shouldn't have and ended up to his armpits in you know what. We let him holler for a while before we tossed him a rope and pulled him out. We sent him to the creek to wash off before we let him come back home. He never cut corners again!

Lol!!! That's priceless!!

sent from a potato...

 

[CWnut]

take some photos as your doing this...look at the ground when the sun is at a low angle to reveal the subtle depressions you might otherwise miss

 

[lockster99]

Never understood the double seater. Who was it that you were suppose to be comfortable setting next to? The wife.....the kids....a friend that dropped by? Wow!

 

[uglymailman]

Some will have brick or stone walkway to them. Concrete if newer. Look a coupe of inches below the sod. I've found a couple of paths of brick. I'd bet less than 100' from the house. Good luck.

 

[jolteon]

100 feet or yards the property is 30 acres and in the early 1800's according to the deed it was 150 acres