Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Pitcher & Bowl

How many of our readers remember the days before indoor plumbing? When I was a child my grandparents' house (where I now live) did not have a bathroom. There was a pitcher & bowl set in every bedroom. There were also chamber pots in the bedrooms, and a privy outdoors. 


















I have terrific memories of spending summers on Ocracoke more than a half century ago, but I wonder how many of us really want to return to "the good old days."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:50 AM

    Perhaps a video is in order. That small side table provides enough room for the activity the pitcher and bowl allows? Just saying, is this to splash water in ones face to wake one up. wash your hands in the middle of the night? Do tell the mystery of the pitcher and bowl-- is it unspeakable??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pitchers and bowls were standard fare in bedrooms before houses had running water. They were used as we use a sink today...to wash your hands and face. The chamber pot took the place of the outdoor privy in the middle of the night, especially when it was cold.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous11:36 AM

    When I was little, we lived with my grandparents. My great aunt, who lived "just up the road," had neither electricity nor running water (but her well was in the far corner of her porch so she didn't have to go out in the weather to draw water). And her outdoor privet was a two-holer!

    ReplyDelete