Washington Township near Lindsey in Sandusky County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Scoop on Poop
WPA Outhouse
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 28, 2024
1. The Scoop on Poop Marker
In the early twentieth century there were many scientific discoveries of how poor sanitation led to significant problems with human health. Many diseases were caused by the improper disposal of human waste. Common illnesses were typhoid fever, diarrhea, dysentery, and hookworm. This information led the Works Project Administration (WPA) to start the construction of outhouses to minimize health problems. The WPA was created during the Great Depression to help employ unskilled workers.
The WPA was known for their public architecture and health related campaigns. One such project was providing the public with sanitary privies in rural areas. The WPA and New Deal Program provided more than 600,000 outhouses throughout the United States. This sanitary privy is easily identified because of the outhouses standardized building plan. The WPA standardized the structure of outhouses to help simplify the construction and make the production of them financially possible. These outhouses were placed at various public places including schools and tourist camps and even placed at individual homes and farms.
Erected by Sandusky County Park District.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Science & Medicine.
Location.
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Regionally, this marker is on the Lake Erie Shore and in the Toledo Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: S'logging' Through the Swamp (within shouting distance of this marker); The Main Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); The Horse Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); Creek Bend Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Wendelle C. Miller Village Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lindsey World War II Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lindsey Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hessville (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lindsey.
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 28, 2024
2. WPA Outhouse
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 28, 2024
3. Inside the WPA Outhouse
Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 170 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 9, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
