The Bathroom

Where the restroom is

Back in the 1800’s they did not have indoor plumbing or electricity. When they had to use the restroom at daytime,

the woman and kids would use the woman’s privy. The men would use their privy. The girl’s privy has a short one and a tall one toilet. The tall one is for the woman and the short one was for the kids. The men’s just had the same height toilets. A chamber pot is a place to use the restroom at night. It looked like tea pot because it was china. The slaves or servants emptied the chamber pot if they were rich. If they were not rich they would have to empty the chamber pots themselves.

By Allison
The Not So Wonderful Bathroom

By Logan

A Chamber pot is what people in Henry Clay’s home used to go to the bathroom at night. When people needed to go to the bathroom at night, they got out the Chamber pot and went to the bathroom. Every day two of Henry Clay’s servants came by and cleaned it out. Then they would put up the Chamber pot on the shelf. Henry Clay’s family had to use the Chamber pot because there was no running water. The Chamber pot was made like a vase. It was made of china. Some had flowers on the side of the Chamber pot or some of the Chamber pots were plain. There were Chamber pots in all of the bedrooms.

The Old Fashion Toilet

By: Andrew

 

These are some old fashion toilets called privies. Privies are where Henry Clay’s family used the bathroom. If it was too cold outside or late at night, the family would use the chamber pot in the house where it was warm. It was clever to have two bathrooms, one indoors and one outdoors. I would not have liked to sit in a freezing privy.

Today most people do not use a bathroom outside. However, a porta-potty is toilet that people use at carnivals, and other outdoor events. Porta-potties are modern privies. One thing that is different from our bathrooms than the privy is that we have indoor plumbing and in Henry Clay’s time they did not. We just have to press down on a handle and the toilet will flush. So, if I went into a privy or even a porta-potty it would really stink.

 

Page updated December 05, 2007