When Pete first started taking photos, electric
lights and indoor plumbing had not yet arrived
in most farms.
But when electricity came, it meant running
water could be pumped into farmhouses.
Soon plans were in the works for toilets,
sinks, and bathtubs.
It just felt like I was the wealthiest person
in the world.
It felt great not to have to go outside to
go to the restroom.
Until then, family members had used backyard
outhouses for their bathroom duties.
Tip-toeing barefoot in the dark through yards
where chickens ran all day, exposing bare
skin on cold winter days, and turning to the
Sears Roebuck catalog as a predecessor to
Charmin.
It was the first time I'd been away from home
overnight.
I was probably about seven or eight at the
time.
We drove into the yard and the mother came
out and said, Bob, go on back to the barn;
the kids are back of the barn.
About halfway between the barn and the house,
I went by this building that looked to me
like an outhouse.
I thought that's a big one; it must be a four-holer.
But they had four kids; I could understand
that, so I didn't think much about it.
I went out and played.
I came back in the evening, and we had supper.
We're playing anagrams and I realized I better
go to the bathroom.
I went out from the dining room table where
we were playing the anagrams, down the steps,
outside, and made a dash for the four-holer,
opened the door, and there were hams hanging
in this building.
It was a smokehouse instead of the privy.
I came charging back and walked in the dining
room and the father said, "upstairs, Bob."
I went upstairs and they had a flush toilet.
I couldn't believe it!
The first one I'd ever seen!
