Thursday, March 27, 2008

Thursday Outhouses - The Outhouse Gallery

The Outhouse Gallery is run by Don Ponder who quite rightly says: "The outhouse served but one purpose in life. Yet one can believe that more creative thoughts and future plans were conceived in this one small building than in any other building of its time." Don has put together a fine collection of outhouses, both illustrated and photographic, on his site as well as his thoughts about the importance of these minimalist shedlike atmospheres. Well worth a browse. The outhouse above, photo by B Hopper, is in south-central Alaska between Sutton and Chickaloon near Fish Lake on a rise above the Matanuska River near the owner's cabin. Below, photos by R. Biggs and M. Sands, is an outhouse built in the late 1870s. As Don says:
"This outhouse was built in the late 1870's. Originally, it was attached to a two-story building that had a business on the first floor and an apartment on the second. Each floor had its own seat, but the one on the top floor sat farther back. Its chute was hidden from the first floor by a false wall."

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:11 PM

    That's a fascinating site Alex. My allotment site doesn't have a loo and composting toilets are very environmentally friendly. Some of these out-houses would look brilliant on site.

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  2. Yes, they're marvellous aren't they. Such variety.

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