The big farmhouse I grew up in during the 1950s didn’t have a bathroom, but it also didn’t have an outhouse.
A small room at the top of the stairs held a sink and a chemical toilet that needed emptying from time to time. Dad did that job.
We bathed in the back room, the same one we roller skated in as kids. There was a wood-burning kitchen stove in there, at least at first, and a large sink. We’d stand in a galvanized tub, a big one like Dad used on the farm, and use a pan in the sink to wash with. Rinse water ended up in the big tub, which we upended it to drain in the sink, or Mom did until we were big enough to do it ourselves.
After Dad tore down that rickety house about 1961, we moved temporarily to another house without a bathroom. We used the same sink and galvanized tub arrangement as before, but this had “six rooms and a path,” as Grandma Leora used to put it. The path led to an outhouse. That was my senior year of high school.
I escaped to college, where we had bathrooms with showers, but my folks and sister lived in the temporary house another couple of years. Mom was especially thrilled when they moved into the new mouse-free house with a real bathroom, even a bonus “half bath.”
Those two old houses also didn’t have closets, so the folks bought a couple of wardrobes, which ended up in the attic of the new little house (which has plenty of closets–Mom made sure of that).
One of those old wardrobes has made its way to our 1957 ranch house, since the bedrooms are small and so are the closets. But we do have a bathtub and now a walk-in shower. Hurrah for closets and indoor bathrooms!
You grew up as did many of your ancestors. You definitely understand what we try to convey about the Greatest Generation.
I did, didn’t I! I don’t remember feeling deprived, but I’m thankful for modern stuff–indoors.
haha, I’ll bet you are!! 😉
“Six rooms and a path”! I love that, Joy. What a line from Grandma Leora. 🥰 And cheers to mouse-free houses…and the galvanized tub bath routines…there’s something appealing about the sweet simplicity you described in your post. Xo! 🥰
It was just the way it was. I don’t remember feeling deprived, even though grandparents and cousins had “real bathrooms.”
🥰❤️🥰
We didn’t have a bathroom on the farm either but had an outhouse which I hated. I used to wait until I got to school to go to the bathroom. The galvanized tub was brought into the kitchen every Saturday night and we would take turns bathing in it. I often spent my weekends in town at Grandma’s place. She had a bathroom with a toilet and a lovely big tub. How I loved it.
Hurrah for your grandma with a “real bathroom,” indoors!
Childhood memories, 😊❤️
Thank you, MA!
By all means, hurrah for closets, and indoor bathrooms!
I didn’t feel deprived back then, but I don’t want to experience it again. ha
Ah, the “good old days!”
Or not!
Great memories and a reminder how easy we have it these days.
I sure wouldn’t go back!
The world has changed so very much. The farmhouses of yesteryear lacked some of the basic conveniences we have today. The most important thing is a house built with love, families that care for each other in the good times and the not so good times. This is still true, no matter the time or place. I think many people have forgotten these days past and not so very long ago…we are so very blessed today with so many things.
I’m not going back! Thank you, Linda.
I remember well my great-grandmother having an outhouse when I was very young. I remember it was spooky to me, and of course, stinky. Her next house was built by her brothers, and it came with a small bathroom.
I hadn’t heard of your situation before (without an outhouse) Times changed dramatically during those times for our country folks.
Yes, my sister lives in that new little house (well, new in the 1960s) with a bath and a half!
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My grandparents’ farm home was like that, though it did have an outhouse. As a kid, I really enjoyed staying there.
Thanks, Tim. I hope you got to stay there often! Both of my grandparents’ homes were modern, although one was in the country.
We stayed there often, and it was always fun! They did update the house with running water and an indoor bathroom when I was in my teens.
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Without a bathroom, you likely had a difficult time washing your hair-a teenager’s crown and glory! 🙂
Nope, I was used to just washing it with my head over the bowl, pouring rinse water over. I guess the same way my mother did! ha
We should never take indoor plumbing for granted!
Amen!