On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 23:56:57 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Oren wrote:
On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:41:24 -0700 (PDT), "
wrote:

Being such a big country and given that all this
evolved over decades I would expect that there
were a variety of combinations. Nothing says that
one couldn't have added a well pump and tank
for the house without installing toilets, sewer system,
etc.

In the 50's my GF was told he had to have an indoor bathroom. He was
rather hard-headed, so he told them to take a hike so to speak.
Finally he complied and built the bathroom with all fixtures.

Then he told the city: (paraphrased) "Now make me hook it up sum
bitch."

Eventually he did it for family, but hated being told what he had to
do. This all happened when the city boundary moved out into the
county jurisdiction. Then city rules applied.
--

My GP had running water but had outhouses.

Perfect. An actual example.

Tub in kitchen for baths, hot
water from coal stove. Grandfather would come home coal black.

Oddity around Pittsburgh in later years. Toilet in basement with no walls.
The Pittsburgh toilet. I don't understand why they didn't have shower, but
did have sink for clothes.

In NYC, it was illegal, for decades I think, to take a bath. Because
heaing the water was so much effort, and maybe the water and heat cost
money, that more than one person would have to bath in the same water.
So people were supposed to go to the public baths, which might have
been showers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asser_Levy_Public_Baths built in 1904.

It seems public baths were legistlated in NY when many people in
tenements had no place to bathe at all. I don't know where the
galvanized tub that hang outsdie the kitchen window between buildings
came in, before then or afterwards.

I guess the law was written so it excluded people with some money.

Greg