How far to the outhouse?

A#1 · Apr 16, 2018

Generally speaking.....

Commonly.....

An outhouse was built within how many feet of the door?

Far enough away not to smell it.......yet close enough in a blizard......50-75 feet?

sprailroad · Apr 16, 2018

Hey, pretty good question, never gave it much thought, of course I would assume it would be from the "back door".

RTR · Apr 16, 2018

Yeah I'm thinking 50-75 ft from the back door would be a good guess.Maybe traces of a walkway can be found.

kingskid1611 · Apr 16, 2018

Or is that where the term 100 yard dash comes from...... :tongue3:

G.A.P.metal · Apr 16, 2018

The book "100 Yards to the Outhouse"
BY Willie Makeit and Betty Doant

devldog · Apr 16, 2018

I guess we could ask an "Out House Rat".........wait, never mind, they're crazy. Scratch this idea.

redbeardrelics · Apr 16, 2018

A#1 said:
Generally speaking.....

Commonly.....

An outhouse was built within how many feet of the door?

Far enough away not to smell it.......yet close enough in a blizard......50-75 feet?

There are lots of variables to consider. Is the house out in the country where yard boundaries' are variable and could have changed over time, or is the house in a town or city where property lines are close to the house? If it is an older property there could have been several privies used over time. Possibly one farther away for summertime, and one closer to the house for winter necessities. Some folks even had men's outhouses, and separate facilities for women. If it is in a town or urban setting then the most likely spots are along the side and rear property lines. If it is a country dwelling then it could be anywhere, and around large old trees or against old barns or outbuilding might be likely spots to probe or detect. Good luck.

Phishfarmer · Apr 16, 2018

Thirty paces.

against the wind · Apr 16, 2018

Depends on how bad you gotta go.

uglymailman · Apr 16, 2018

Having experienced the joy of a wooden seat on a frigid or sweltering day in several "little house out back", it has been my observation that most were in the 50 to 100 foot range. There were all in the country but not all on farms. In my youth, most country or small village homes had one even if they had indoor plumbing. Our country school also had indoor plumbing built in the 20's but retained the outhouses, one for boys and one for girls. Most did have a walk of some kind going to it.
My favorite outhouse story came from a Great Aunt. A young man was taking her for a buggy ride and on the way home had a "pain" that needed urgent relief. As they got to the house he handed my Aunt the reins, jumped off the buggy and took off in a run to the "little house". As he's running, he's unbuttoning his pants so when he hit's the door he can turn around and drop his drawers,which he does, and sits right down on my Great Grandma. Good luck.

smokeythecat · Apr 16, 2018

30-35 feet. Gets cold in the winter.

LawrencetheMDer · Apr 17, 2018

There may be several outhouses. Had a friend who had to move his outhouse because it was contaminating his well. When he moved the outhouse, the well dried up! :tongue3:

Oldhead · Apr 17, 2018

Thinking of digging for some relics?

DeepseekerADS · Apr 17, 2018

Our outhouse was about 50' from the back door to the house, kinda cramped - needed another seat for those big spiders....

RTR · Apr 17, 2018

How about a root cellar on the property ?

Or an outside well ?

A#1 · Apr 17, 2018

Theres still a house foundation, and a 5 segment circulat anomoly that I can see with google earth......but with the weather, I can't get back there yet to really look around.

Well, at that place anyhow, theres quite a few i got mapped out, that's why the question. Sort of setting an outermost search perimeter.

nwpa · Apr 17, 2018

It's hard to say exactly but I have seen them as close as 20 feet away on the east side and south west sides.

digginNdreamin · Apr 17, 2018

All the ones I have dug around or been near, I would guess 25 to 50 feet..Most of the time there will be a depression in the ground or lilac type bushes around..