http://lancasterfarming.com/northeed...tion=B&page=20

I hope this link works! We get the Lancaster (PA)Farming newspaper and there is an article this week about 'privy bags'. It says that "practical storage for the paper saved (for use in the outhouses) varied but in one part of southeastern Pennsylvania it became popular for the women of the household to decorate the plain old linen privy bag to make it not just functional but artisitc. " There are pictures with the article and many of the bags are small quilts! Lots of work to be hung in the outhouse!

There is going to be a display of these bags 11/21 to May 2010 at the Historical Soceity of the Cocalico Valley's museum in Ephrata. There is a website listed: http://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org/

(I found the correct site now!)

I just had to share this with you before I forgot!! I never heard of these bags.

I was not able to get the link to work. But the idea is fascinating. I remember having to walk out back, but I don't remember any ornamentation in our utilitarian outhouse in northern Minnesota. My uncle later painted his and made it really pretty AFTER they got inside plumbing. But my aunt was not into quilting.

I never thought about what they used to save privy paper in....what a creative storage solution!!!

The historical society is dot org. http://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org/

I don't remember a "privy bag" in any of the outhouses I ever visited. Just an outdated catalog or other "scrap paper".. and I do remember that you wanted to use the matte pages, not the shiny ones, and you would crumple and straighten them several times to make them more effective.

TMI, Tippy! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...shocked034.gif

anybody need a toilet...still going to outhouse?: ad at bottom of page :lol:

anyhow, since I've never had any experience with outhouses, I am assuming that a privy bag held the paper for the 'paperwork'?
Like a holder for plastic bags in your kitchen?
wonders never cease, but if you had an outhouse, I guess you would need somewhere to keep the, um, - paper.
I guess I just thought there was a Sears and Roebuck sitting there.
Have to keep the critters out though. interesting.
oh, I can see the logic in crumpling and straightening too. Like new money :lol:

We have an outhouse at camp. I would love to see one of these. Maybe I could make one for our "Camp Gottago"

[b]

ROFLOL.. well my dear.. just consider it a sharing of historical fact. besides.. who knows, someday you might get stuck needing to use a primitive facility and that tidbit of fact might come in handy. :lol: :shock:

kwhite - there is an outhouse at hubby's hunting camp. They keep their rolls in a big old potatoe chip can. I think the chip makers took their potatoe chips to the local farmer's market in these cans in the old days. I think if I would make a privy bag to hold their t-paper, they would laugh my husband out of camp! Plus, the next time we were at camp, we would find that someone had stolen it!

The bags look like they might be about 18" square. Supersize a block maybe? Hey, maybe instead of hiding an extra roll somewhere close to the toilet here at home, I can make a bag and hang it on the wall nice and handy!