• Sunday-What'sUP March 15 - 10:42 pm

Last week when Brenda Leigh took us on a retreat to the eastern end of the U.P., the one building that was missing from the collage of photos was: the outhouse. There are still quite a few outhouses here up north (we have one in our back yard) and they still see some use when plumbing is a problem.

But there is another use for these tiny buildings every winter in Trenary, Michigan, where they put them on runners and race them. A few weeks ago someone pointed out that we have covered the UP 200 dog races, Heikkinpäivä, and Winter Carnival, but have neglected the outhouse races. Courtesy of JLDRdotcom we bring a glimpse of this annual event in today's Cameo.

Have a good week :o)

The Crapper 500...better than NASCAR.

That's cheating - That looks like it has a chimney!!! - Ours on Bois Blanc Island don't have such luxuries, although it would be welcome in November during Deer Season - Do they make heated toilet paper???

In Finland, they sometimes use the word "huussi" to describe an outhouse. Back home in the Range area, we called it "the Hyysikka." The one in that photo sure is fancy compared to the ones I remember!

Yes , Polkatime, that's the name I remember for the outhouse too.
My mom's family was from the Range area as well. Charlie, you are
right, the outhouse at the cottage/camp still sees some
use...especially in the winter (when our plumbing has been shut
off) or when we have house guests and need an extra bathroom.

That is not a chimney on the roof...it is a vent putting out the odor so the flies can home in on you !!!

Way back in the 50's, while a college student in Ashland, Wi we would patronize a tavern out on US-2 (Onion River Inn???) and during the winter the narrow path would lead out to the 2 out-houses..I had never seen one before and was shocked that the "local officials" would o.k. this arrangement.

This is one case where I definitely don't mind the times a-changin'...

Only had an outhouse to use until I was 15.
toilet paper was pages from catalogs.Noboby complained.

THE " HONEY DIPPERS" WERE A THREAT TO STUDY IN SCHOOL OR ELSE WE WOULD GET THE JOB SOMEDAY.

Where'd the Crescent Moon shape come from on the door of an outhouse anyway? I've always wondered about that.

Good friend of mine had an outhouse behind his woodshed while his house was still unfinished. It was winter, and I would not even bother to close the door since it was secluded behind the shed. Sit there watching the soft snow floating down--truly lovely. No bugs flyng up your...

It's all in the perspective.

There was this guy who was a real prankster, He wired an old crank type telephone to an outhouse seat. When he cranked the phone it would send an electrical charge out to the seat. The phone was in his camp and he would wait until a person got comfortable and he would zap them. What a rude awakening it must have been.

Whoa, looks like someone built this outhouse with the door opening outside. Big mistake here in the Copper Country.

Donald, that is truly a detail I would have never thought of myself!

How come there are no tracks in the snow showing any one entering or leaving?

This is my outhouse, truly a room with a view! Lake Superior is just a matter of a few yards from it's front door. We did have to use it in the fall when we bought our cottage about 15 years ago. All our pipes had burst and we had to redo all the plumbing in our new cottage. Now it's a tool shed, and I wouldn't tear it down for anything!http://gallery.pasty.com/displayimage.php?album=583&pos=4

My kid learned at nature center pioneer camp that men's had stars
and women's had moons. The men's got all gross due to lack of
upkeep (big surprise) and so they moved over and took over the
women's outhouses and that is why they all have moons now.

Don't forget to wear green and purple tomorrow! Of course, you know it's ST. URHO'S DAY!! Urho chased all the grasshoppers from the Finnish vinyards and saved the grape crop.

I almost forgot!