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| Outhouse Digging in Pennsylvania A dig in 2005 | |||
Turd’s Eye View of the World Words by Charlie Cook (ex-Outhouse Digger) Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
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The Outhouse Diggers, Rick and Paul, looking at some of the bottles they recovered Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Paul guiding some of the recovered material to the surface Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Taking a break from the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Could this be the effects of old Outhouse gas? Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
What a typical Outhouse dig begins to look like Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
An unbelievable discovery! Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Pounded glass bottle Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Bottles found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Does anyone know what this is? Gary Thompson writes that it looks very much like an Indian fish hook. Shawnee Antiques writes "I would love to know if there is a hole at the end of the “Indian fish hook.” It appears to be a handle to a parasol when I'm looking at the picture. Without any additional information that would be my best guess unless it is much smaller than I think and has no hole. Marsha" Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Does anyone know what this is? This was found near the bottom of the pit. Anyone have an idea what it is? It's made of bone, I know that. Gary Thompson writes that it looks very much like an Indian fish hook. Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
More bottles found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
More bottles found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
More bottles found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
More bottles found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
More bottles found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
More bottles found during the dig; Notice the man Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Bottom of one bottle Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Shards and shards found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Shards and shards found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
Shards and shards found during the dig Photo from R. Weiner Used by Permission |
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Update January 2014: The diggers above were featured in a great on line article about Outhouse Digging. You can see the article by clicking HERE. The digger's web site is located HERE. [Curator's Comment] First up, we will get a response from The Outhouses of America Tour's very own Outhouse Digging specialist: He seems to have seen signs of poop and other organics. This hold was stone lined at the top and brick below that. I would think it could have been a well but since the brick was not mortared that seems unlikely. He actually saw signs of the stone that attracted him to probe. To me it seems to well constructed for just dumping, and too deep…bottom as yet not established. He sent me another photo of the 7’ probe buried to handle, with the “use layer” as he is calling it unfelt. This pit was behind a flour mill or something, and may have been used by a group of employees. These super big, deep pits up in the northeast are not unknown. I know of thirty footers up in the New York area. Those often served tenements. This hole is being excavated by just two people. They have owner’s permission and don’t have to hurry. When digging really big holes two people are really not enough, particularly if there is a time factor. On the other hand two people are too many when you start dividing the haul afterward. Human nature… I think I told you two other people and I once dug a well in New Orleans that was 6’ X 15’ and covered it back up on one day. It was was almost dark when we finished and we started at 8:00 AM. We like to never got it filled because of all the water we dumped in to weed covered yard of the abandoned house. I had to run around the neighborhood and find junk TV’s, old lumber, concrete blocks, etc. etc. to replace the water. I can tell you, that’s a lot of work for just three men. I’d do it again at the drop of a hat, if I could. Of course it helps to be insane, as all privy diggers are. There is no other explanation. Anyway your web site [The Outhouses of America Tour at www.jldr.com] generated these messages and photos. I’ve had other people share their results with me after they contacted me for info, but this one is especially interesting. That’s why I’m sharing it with you. It will be real interesting to see how old it is on bottom, and what it yields. | |
| [I told Charlie to tell them to be careful. Here was his reply:] I told them exactly all that some days ago. While they won’t put a casing in the hole, he assured me they are being very careful. While this guy seems [excited to be digging], he seems to be doing it right. I call what he’s sending me bottle porn…interesting, but I wish I was doing it myself. I thought the picture looking up at the opening of the hole very neat. That’s a view few will ever see in person. | |
| [Here is another of Charlie's comments to me:] It's about time you got some recognition, particularly from a publication in your own area. Judging by the amount of response given my little corner there, it has been interesting and given pleasure to a lot of people. I'm amazed by the amount of time that has passed since I found it and contacted you. Presently, I'm receiving a blow by blow account of a first big privy dig of someone who contacted me from Allentown, PA. He had written for advice on how to begin. He and his friend found a 6 X 6 pit lined with unmortared bricks. They didn't hit bottles or anything pre 1900 until the got to 11 feet. Then...finally, glass and bottles from the 1890's. They aren't probing any more for fear of breaking, but know the glass goes at least another seven feet. The house it was behind was built in the 1840's and the real bottle digging is just getting started. | |
| These guys did some probing and found what they thought might be the site of an old outhouse. The were right! The pictures above are quite unbelievable and are the most bottles I have ever seen from one dig and the most unbroken. The dig is also one of the deepest I have heard about. The words below are in the own words of the Outhouse Diggers! | |
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And now for the actual shovel by shovel description from the Outhouse Diggers themselves: Ok. We are both form Allentown, PA. We work for the City of Allentown Parks Dept. My name's Rick. My diggin' buddy's name is Paul. I have been digging since I was 14. I'm now 46. I just recently got in to the privy diggin' 2 years ago. I was a (dump) digger all my life. Too bad no one told me about privys back then. My friend Paul just started digging 2 years ago so he has been digging dumps and privys with me. We have dug a few monsters. One was a 15 foot bricker and now we are into this huge one. It's 6 foot across and at 15 foot deep now. People say they never saw a 7 foot (use) layer. I think we got one on our hands. The probe told me so. We dug 12 foot of all new fill out brick, tons of stone, slate, dirt (a no parking sign), ha ha ha but we kept going. Then we hit the start of the use layer. Cone ink right on top. The people who threw all the new fill in thought that was the bottom. We dug maybe 4 foot in to the use layer over time. It takes a while to cover a 6 foot span without breaking bottles, and to this date we have got over 300 bottles, slicks, and bunk included, but got over 150 keepers and we have a ways to go yet. I just got a pontil flask type tonight (we dig with drop lights). My friend found an 1874 dime when he was screening the shards. The shards are overwelming. 2 trash cans full a night. We have been dumping them on a tarp. The lady who owns the place wants to save some to make art type stuff. There is tons porery, blue wear, wedgewood, red wear crystel, etc. mostly broken but we find some whole stuff. They had to use this (privy slash dump) from 1848 till 1890. That's what the top layer was. The guy who was the (rich) owner moved in in 1865 so if they didn't build the privy in 1848, we know the bottom will be 1865 but I think it was built with the house in 1848. So that's the story on the monster hole. | |
| We hit bottom. It was 22 foot. | |
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I think I might have another one (dig) lined up. This place where I grew up (Ambler) PA. I knew this kid that lived in a huge stone building called The manor House. It was apartments then and it still is but i just found out from a friend that it was a home with a carriage house in the 1860's and now the (kid) owns it. Well he's my age now so the big kid (hahaha). Anyway, time to probe ... that may be a big deep one to, the guy was loaded that lived there. I will let you know how it goes. Contact these Outhouse Diggers if you have an old Outhouse location they can dig at. In the Email, insert your name and phone number and the location so they can contact you. | |
| What else can you see in the images shown? Many times a photo is worth a thousand words and I've only elaborated with a few so why don't you add some "color commentary" to my collection. If your addition is worthy, you will find the quote added on the Comments to the Curator page. | |
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