Chamber Pots and the Old West
Chamber Pots and the Old West
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Some subjects are simply off limits in romanticized historical fiction. One of them happens to be the call of nature. Sometimes we see a heroine’s motivation for arising in the middle of the night. Always to heat some milk to help her sleep. It’s rare to read about one whose bladder keeps her awake. And certainly never the need to… um, well, {whispered} “Number Two”.
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USE OF CHAMBER POTS
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In my most recent post about “the necessary” (a.k.a. outhouse), I referenced the bitter elements of winter that would make accessing the facility uncomfortable if not impossible. Yet there were plenty of additional reasons to keep a chamber pot on hand. Middle of the night needs, little children, the elderly, a simple convenience, a mother’s inability to leave the children (near a hot stove or fireplace), and so much more.
If you’ve every toured an historic house open as a museum, you’ve no doubt seen chamber pots near beds. In actual historic practice, chamber pots were tucked away out of sight. Either beneath the bed or in the lower cupboard of a wash stand.
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Chamber pot at foot of bed. In actual practice, these unsightly objects were usually tucked beneath the bed or otherwise out of sight.
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IT’S A TOUGH JOB, BUT SOMEONE’S GOT TO DO IT
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Chamber pots were used essentially when visiting the necessary wasn’t possible. Emergencies, illness, advanced age, weather, etc. But I can imagine the well-to-do availing themselves of the inside convenience of a chamber pot and leaving the dirty work to the help.
When I visited historical homes open as museums, I’ve heard interpreters (museum guides) speak of the young boys’ (age 7 to 10 or so) job of emptying chamber pots. In my lifetime of ease and indoor plumbing, I don’t want to contemplate the yuck-factor of that job. But it was a part of every-day Victorian life–especially in the Old West where indoor plumbing had yet to reach.
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FANCY POTS
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Odorless commode and slop bucket combined, as advertised in the 1897 Sears Roebuck & Co. catalog (no. 104). The advertisement itself emphasizes the use of chamber pots (by end of the century) were for invalids, sick rooms, and rare occasions (weather).
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Very fancy chamber pot, as seen on Pinterest.
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Japanned ware chamber pot, from the 1897 Sears Roebuck & co. catalog (no. 104) pp 150.
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Updated May 2022
Copyright © 2016 Kristin Holt LC
Chamber Pots and the Old West
I love these articles, Kristin. They are always informative. When I was sixteen, we visited a friend of my mom’s who lived on a farm and still used an outhouse. At night, there was a bucket to use since it was too dark outside to find the way safely. I can’t imagine that being part of daily life, but if you’re used to it or don’t know anything else it was normal. To this city girl, it was memorable and awful 🙂 Keep writing.
Hi Marianne–
Outstanding! You’re so right… “normal” is completely “normal”. And people–in any era and in any location–are wise to recognize ‘safety first’. Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and contributing to the conversation. Much appreciated!
Best,
Kristin
Hi my aunt lived in small town on a farm in kentucky. Her out house is in old movies showing various au ts and uncles going in and out pretending to meet in there. It had a curtain no door. This was back in the 50s. Being a city girl we had flash lights and slept on the floor so adults had the beds. My aunt may fried chicken after wringing their necks and plucking feathers. I think that’s when I started not eating meat so much lol
I love your books
Hi Ann–
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and sharing your personal experiences. That’s so cool that you have relatives living in a house that starred in old movies! They lived the good-old country life, fresh chicken and all. Thank you so much for contributing to the conversation and your kind words about my books (thank you, thank you!).
Warm regards,
Kristin
When my grandmother visited us, she always had a chamber pot in her luggage. We had an 1800’s two-story farmhouse and the company slept upstairs. The bathroom was down a narrow dark stairway.
I talk about a chamber pail in my Letters of Fate book, Isaac. I’m one of the few authors to doesn’t leave out all the uglies of living in the 1800’s. 😉
Great posts!
Hi Paty–
Wow– traveling with a chamber pot. =) That’s a tidbit that would be so fun to slip into a work of fiction, wouldn’t it? What a rich family history with an 1800’s two-story farmhouse. I can certainly see why Grandmother chose a chamber pot over a trek down the narrow dark staircase.
Good for you for delving into the realities (and uglies) of living in the 19th century. You rock history!
Thanks for your kind words, stopping by regularly, and contributing. So very much appreciated.
Best,
Kristin