Pennsville in Salem County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Latrines

Fort Mott State Park

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2009

1. The Latrines Marker

Inscription. Two latrines were built within the parados for soldiers assigned to the gun batterys. The bathrooms each had several toilets for enlisted men, a private stall for officers and a large cast-iron urinal.

Toilets were similar to our modern flush toilets, except that the plumbing took the waste directly to the moat and not to a septic system. Since the moat was tidal and controlled by a sluice gate, the sewage was flushed out into the Delaware River with each tidal change. In addition to the practical necessity of the latrines, this system also served as part of an overall defense strategy: any enemy who tried to cross the moat first had to get through the sewage.

Erected by State of New Jersey.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles.

Location. 39° 36.254′ N, 75° 33.163′ W. Marker is in Pennsville, New Jersey, in Salem County. Marker can be reached from Fort Mott Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located on the walking trail in Fort Mott State Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pennsville NJ 08070, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battery Arnold (within shouting distance of this marker); Two Batteries in one (within shouting distance

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of this marker); Pea Patch Island (within shouting distance of this marker); Generator Room (within shouting distance of this marker); Switchboard Room / Plotting Room (within shouting distance of this marker); The Wharf (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battery Commander’s Station (about 300 feet away); Battery Edwards (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pennsville.

More about this marker. Two illustrations appear at the top of the marker. The left one is of a “Typical urinal. Toilet hoppers were equipped with a spring-loaded seat for automatic flushing.” The other diagram shows the latrine’s location in relation to the parados and the moat. It has a caption of “The latrines were constructed within the parados directly behind the main gun emplacements to make them highly accessible to the officers and soldiers stationed in Batterys Arnold and Harker.”

Also see . . . Fort Mott State Park. NJ Division of Parks & Forestry website. (Submitted on August 29, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Marker in Fort Mott image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2009

2. Marker in Fort Mott

The Latrines image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, August 12, 2009

3. The Latrines

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 872 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.