Found an Old Privy ( I Think)

[logueb]

After weeks of searching , I think I have finally found a privy. The only thing remaining is a piece of tin with what appears to be a vent pipe and two oval cement pipes in the ground. OK , privy people what do I have here?

 

[logueb]

I have never seen a privy with these cement ovals sitting on a cement slab. Is this a deluxe two seater? I am told that this was a privy across the road from an old school house. Here's a pic of the cement ovals.

 

[logueb]

View into one of the holes. Those appear to be post-prohibitation whiskey and beer bottles. This thing doesn't appear to have been used for a long time. Except to sneak a little drink.[]

 

[logueb]

View into the other hole. Notice that there is water visible in this hole. It may be too wet now to dig this thing. Where do I start? I ain't going down on of them pipes....no way....no how.....[:-]. Killed two snakes under the tin. Small ones , probably babies... so where's mama and papa[:-]. Should I dig a shaft next to the privy? It appears to have a top but no side walls. That top must weigh a ton.

 

[RICKJJ59W]

It may be an outhouse, but, when I hear the word's tin, pipes, or cement ect that to me means its real real new, and not worth even tempting to dig, who knows what might get on your hands in that one

, and by the way it look's you may even get stuck in that cement hole, you need to go look around, yards, you need to get permission to dig, or old lots where the houses are gone but the foundation remain, get your self a probe and probe the ground in search of (old) pits, the older ones you wont see signs of any thing (built) you have to go by the texture of the dirt, you may find a sunken in spot in a yard or lot. probe that to see if it feels different from the earth around it, I hope that helped you some Rick

if not email me I will help you more slamiezzzz@aol.com

 

[Jim]

Hi Buster, Sorry to bring bad news...but Rick is right on. My buddy and I had an old school site with similar small, concrete pits. Total bust []. If they were stone, brick or wood, it might be worth doing. While you can never be sure what is in the bottom of any pit, I would personally not be interested in those. The small size is also a major hassle. You'll find a good pit, there are lots of them waiting. ~Jim

 

[lexdigger]

Yeah, I'm with Rick and Jim on this one. It looks way to new to even think about digging. The only way you're going to find an old privy is with a probe. Keep at it and you'll find a good one! Chris

 

[diggerjeff]

that could be a WPA PRIVY with 2 holes. i have never dug one because the people that i know who have tried them told me not to waste my time. they do produce some bottles from ww2 and after.

 

[Sir Digalot]

When you say 'probe' what do you mean exactly? Just a rod to poke around and find a distinctive place where a privy is? Please explain, thanks.

 

[RICKJJ59W]

What you need to do is go to a junkyard and ask them for trunk steel from a large car, I use thinner trunk steel from smaller cars because they go in the ground much easier but every one has there own thing, you have to use a few to see what suits you, when you get it, you need to straighten it out in a vise, one piece comes out close to 5 foot,thats the size I use to look for finding privies, when you get it straight then you need to get someone to weld a T handle on top of the rod, and than a nut or a ball Bering a little larger then the rod on the end you use, I am lucky because my digging buddy is a motor head and has a welder, I am sure you could find some one (cheep) to do it,it doesn't take long, if you get into real deep privys a 10 probe is used to see how deep that baby relay goes, but you wont need that right away, its a simple thing to make, but takes time to get to know the feel of the soil compared to ash and privy fill. All I can say it get ready for sore arms haha [] because that's how it is when you start out, but its a good sore. keep on lookin,Good Luck

ps: or if you cant make one you can buy one on line[/align]