Ditto above. I usually start with the back property lines and work my way around the sides, unless there are some rather obvious spots, like dish shaped depressions in the ground or like one yard last year where I literally walked up to a depression and could actually make out the top row of stones to a ovoid shape stone liner. I remember thinking, "This is too easy" and figured it had been dug. But I figured wrong! What does seem universal is they are most often found near/behind/in front/ of old barns. Likely because they smelled anyway, so more stink was likely unnoticeable. I found a recent hole by thinking how far would I want to trot with the trots? I nailed it in under 5 minutes. I used to think if they were well off, they had servants to deal with all that, emptying the thunder mug in the morning along with the recent trash, so they didn't care if it was as far away as possible. But on pondering it, I realized their diets were not the best and gastric distresses were most common. That said, one had to fend for him/herself and make the dash in person. So I generally draw the line at about 30-40 feet from the back door. Often they are much closer and in some areas the older ones are closest and they get newer further away. Just a matter of space. Also sometimes the lot in question may have had 2 earlier houses long gone and one now in the middle. With these, there could easily be 2 privies along the older property line, which would go down the center of the yard instead of the current property lines. These can easily be missed and research really can help discover these. First hole I dug this year was in a stingy lot from last year that I suspected the garage (built in the 1920's and had been dug down) had eliminated the privy I was searching for. But then I recalled the 2 houses on the lot in earlier times and was able to guesstimate the property line and probed walking away from the house towards the alley. Found one about the middle of the large yard. (Still should be one more but can't seem to locate it yet.) In mentioning garages, they often were remodeled carriage houses or barns, or they tore them down and built the garages right on top of the barns, often covering over the nearby privies. In demolition projects, I am always hovering near the cement slabs for the garages in hopes of uncovering some privies, and it happens more often than not. HTH Jacktwowheelfan said:
