Privy and Icehouse Foundation
circa 1900
Prior to the introduction of indoor plumbing, the privy was the farm family's toilet. It was built over a 6- to 8-foot deep pit. When the pit was full, the privy was moved to a new location. It would commonly be located a short distance behind the house. The Mt. Pleasant privy was used until the early 1950s when indoor plumbing was installed in the farmhouse.
The foundation adjacent to the privy likely once supported an icehouse, which served the purpose of present-day freezers. Ice was cut from streams in winter months and then stored in the icehouse covered by straw to keep it cold all year long even through the summer.
Erected by Howard County Conservancy.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the If You've Got to Go... series list.
Location. 39° 18.992′ N, 76° 52.476′ W. Marker is in Woodstock, Maryland, in Howard County. It can be reached from Old Frederick Road (Maryland Route 99) west of Dorchester Way, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10524 Old Frederick Rd, Woodstock MD 21163, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of
this page online
Credits. This page was last revised on March 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 276 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 17, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
