Cemetery Outhouse
History of the Cemetery Outhouse
The Cemetery Outhouse is a typical building from the turn-of-the-century (i.e. 1900). Because of the more or less "public" use of this building it was partitioned into two sections. One entrance was for the women and the other was for the men.
It was moved from Trinity's cemetery to its present location in the late 1960's.
Why would you need an outhouse in a cemetery?In Freistadt, as in other church-centered communities, Sunday was set aside for the Lord. Not only was it a day of rest, but especially during warm weather, it was a time to look after the graves of relatives.
In the horse-and-buggy days, families would bring a lunch and have their noon meal on the cemetery grounds before hitching up the horses for the drive home.
Because the cemetery was a wide open, fairly level area, it became the site of church picnics and mission festivals where parishioners could socialize with friends, relatives and neighbors.
With that much time being spent on the cemetery grounds, a clean outhouse was an essential convenience in the days before indoor plumbing.Erected by Trinity Historical Society. (Marker Number 3.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 43° 14.053′ N, 88° 2.789′ W. Marker is in Mequon, Wisconsin, in Ozaukee County. Marker can be reached from Church Place, 0.1 miles south of Freistadt Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in the Trinity Freistadt Historical Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mequon WI 53097, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Vogt Woodshed/Radue Gas Engine (here, next to this marker); Radue Chicken Coop (here, next to this marker); Gierach Smokehouse (a few steps from this marker); Baeseman Log Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Trinity Horse Shed Reconstruction (within shouting distance of this marker); Mueller Machine Shed (within shouting distance of this marker); Klumb-Beuscher Bake Oven (within shouting distance of this marker); Trinity School Woodshed (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mequon.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 8, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 481 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 8, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.