This geocache is dedicated to my parents, Ma and Pa B, for sharing their love and knowledge of history with me (sorry I didn’t always pay attention). Thanks for not giving up and thank you for instilling a love of the great outdoors by always telling me to get out of the house!
I don’t know when the transition happened, but somewhere along the line I fell in love with history. Not ancient history, European history, or other such disiplines, but a history more tangible. The history of home. Maybe it happened when I finally had some of my own history behind me and could appreciate the contribution others had made over time. On the other hand, maybe I am just my mothers daughter. You see, as far back as I can remember, road trips always took way longer than they should, even when it was just out to the farm (where we went all the time). Ma made pa stop the car, frequently, and without warning most of the time. She would exit the vehicle – usually leaving the door open so the bugs could bombard those of us she left behind – and off she went through a field to capture the ‘once in a lifetime’ moment on film. Sure, it was an old house, elevator, bit of farm equipment, or some other random thing that had stood there for decades but in that moment, it was necessary to photograph it. I don't know if she ever tried to tell us one day we would appreciate it. If she did, the boys and I didn't listen.
I do now.
Now I make my own husband stop the car frequently with much the same unexplicable joy in chasing that shot. Geocaching has fueled this fire even more. We are being taken to places where things of such importance still stand, or once stood, and should not be forgotten. Last summer, when I went back to those old dirt roads so often travelled in my youth, I visited with different eyes. I stop at the places schools, elevators, and people's homes once stood and I think about the lives they lived and the legacy created. Some I don’t remember, some I do. Another fine bonus of geocaching, is that my family has began to revisit abandoned places of significance to our family and record those locations with GPS coordinates for future generations to know where our own history took place. Much of that history is already only alive in the memories of those who lived it and perhaps didn’t think it was worth saving, much like the mighty outhouse.
Here is some fun trivia about Outhouses!
The old-fashioned outhouses (like this one is modeled after), originated in Europe over 500 years ago. Some of the finer establishments offered both “his” and “hers” outhouses, respectively using the symbol for the moon (luna)and sun (sol)to indicate which was for women and men. The cutout also vented the outhouse and let in light (you didn’t want to be taking a lit lantern in there).
Toilet paper was a luxury that few rural families could afford. Catalogues or newspaper was used instead. For your convenience, I have provided both!
Standard size for an outhouse was 7 feet tall by 3 or 4 feet square. They had no window, heat, or electric light. The outhouse was generally placed between 50 feet and 150 feet from the main house, and faced away from the main house all in an effort to reduce the unpleasant smell from permeating the house and many people used the outhouse with the door open (a habit that became hard to break when the bathroom moved indoors).
Many outhouses actually had two holes. The holes were different sizes, one for children and one for adults. You didn’t want to lose a child (or anything else) down the hole.
P.S. If anyone spots a PrairieSwan in the vicinity, approach with caution and keep in mind they respond well to ice cream. If you know her, ask her what that means. ;)
