Mount Vernon near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Necessary
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2019
1. Necessary Marker
Inscription.
Necessary. . Only members of the gentry used the Necessary, commonly known as an outhouse or privy, and likely only in good weather. Chamber pots were used inside the house in evenings and in cold or inclement weather. Slaves removed, emptied, and cleaned the chamber pots daily. Research indicates that a second Necessary may have existed north of the Meat House, completing the symmetrical arrangement of buildings located along the ridge of the hill., [Caption:] , The Necessary at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest features an opening for cleaning. Look for evidence of this feature here, which has since been covered.
Only members of the gentry used the Necessary, commonly known as an outhouse or privy, and likely only in good weather. Chamber pots were used inside the house in evenings and in cold or inclement weather. Slaves removed, emptied, and cleaned the chamber pots daily. Research indicates that a second Necessary may have existed north of the Meat House, completing the symmetrical arrangement of buildings located along the ridge of the hill.
[Caption:]
The Necessary at Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest features an opening for cleaning. Look for evidence of this feature here, which has since been covered.
Location. 38° 43.032′ N, 77° 8.243′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is in Mount Vernon. Marker can be reached from Outlet, 0.2 miles north of Lampert Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria VA 22309, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dairy (a few steps from this marker); Meat House (within shouting distance
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 11, 2019
2. Necessary Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
