OUTHOUSES
Once a common site in rural areas, outhouses have gradually disappeared from backyards as indoor plumbing became common. Stephen and Cheryl have managed to save several of these symbols of the west and have them displayed in the Railway Gardens.
In 2006 Stephen attended a ranch sale in Bend, OR. His sister Chris, who lived in Bend at the time, joined him at the auction site. These photos show an outhouse he bought where it was found in its original location at the ranch. In the lower right hand photograph Stephen’s sister got the best of the auction crew when she pretended she was going to use the outhouse.
In the photo on the left, Stephen is loading the outhouse on his truck. On the right the outhouse is heading down the lonely highway heading for Alturas and its new home.
These two photographs show the outhouse in its new home next to the Blacksmith Shop in the Railway Gardens.
This was a fancy outhouse for its time. It has a fold down lid with a nice notched carved wood latch to keep it up when in use. It even has a metal vent so the toilet lid could be kept closed when not in use, but the odors would still vent to the outside. Stephen added the brass plaque.
This vintage outhouse was missing the door when Stephen found it at a farm sale outside of Dorris, CA. Doors were not just for privacy. Without a door, the seat would get a little cold in the winter as shown in the photos above and below.
The outhouse is a convenient place to “take a break” on a stroll around the Railway Gardens.
