How do i find evidence of an old outhouse

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.
 

the grass may be a bit darker in color
 

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.....
 

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 $$$$$$
 

jolteon said:
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 $$$$$$
Click to expand...

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

sent from a potato...
 

DeepseekerADS said:
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.....
Click to expand...

You had seats?
 

aquanut said:
You had seats?
Click to expand...


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.
 

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
 

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
 

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!
 

Indian Steve said:
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!
Click to expand...

Lol!!! That's priceless!!

sent from a potato...
 

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
 

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!
 

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.
 

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

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