Tips on finding the privy location?

[Grandma]

I'm new at this, have found a few interesting things, and tons of junk... (sigh) Do you all have a guess how many feet the privy would have been located away from an old home? I have a lovely big old house, disintegrating adobe, but there are numerous locations where a privy could have been, none of them really close to the house. Also, are there any identifying characteristics that might pinpoint one? And any thoughts on how deep I would need to dig one if I found it? I've scratched the surface at a few of the possible locations, and did find 2 broken old bottle tops (cork-type, no seams and no screw-on) but nothing underneath them. Thank you.

 

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[MT_Joe]

I just put one in about 40' from my front door.

 

[GaRebel1861]

Front door? Must be down wind from the house?

 

[MT_Joe]

Usually, but sprinkle a little powdered lime down the hole between uses and there's no problem.

 

[old digger]

Seek out any slight depressions that are three to four feet across. Also by using a metal rod to see if the soil has ever been loosened. Usually when soil has been moved, the rod will be easier to penetrate into the ground. Good Luck!

 

[Gold Maven]

I'm not sure about NM, in Ohio the winters get cold, and the snow deep, so they would be a little closer to the house.

Down wind and behind the house usually.

Any old pictures of the house from former residents?

Good Luck, post some pics.

 

[Grandma]

Thank you, I will try the 3-4' depressions, the metal rod and downwind. That's a help! I think I've been looking too far away from the house...