Aunt Virgie lived at the end of Johnson Road at Carrolls Corner just past Athelstan. The house was tiny, the ceilings slung low, the outside was covered in old asbestos siding—just like our recently purchased Fayetteville house. In fact, our new house reminds me of Aunt Virgie’s house, which is probably one of the reasons I was drawn to it.
Sometimes I think I channel Aunt Virgie…
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| Fayetteville Cottage |
As kids we often slept at her house which was always a great adventure, a bit like camping. Aunt Virgie had no indoor plumbing… even in the 1970s. We thought her back yard outhouse near the chicken coop was THE coolest thing ever.
Using the bathroom outside in the dark was THE coolest thing ever.
I suggested to my husband that we might build an outhouse for our Fayetteville cottage. Since there is only one teeny bathroom (the size of our Dallas shower), an outhouse would be a brilliant time management tool! Especially since we are always working in the yard (no more tracking dirt into the house when we are digging and planting). And especially since I always have to pee.
It would be adorable tucked away in the wisteria beside our bamboo forest, maybe with one of those little half moon cut outs on the door. Just a one-holer and only used for number one, of course.
I’ll have to check with our friend and real estate agent Paula to see if this would hurt the re-sale value. But, this is the Ozarks… I think it would boost value… a 2 bedroom/1 bath + 1 holer….? Charming. And very eco-friendly.
Since Aunt Virgie had no running water, she had a pump outside the kitchen door. We took turns pumping buckets of water for her, avoiding the fat rooster that terrorized us and her chickens. That water was always cold and clear—the best tasting water—and we drank it out of a long-handled dipper. After she died, I wondered about that dipper. I hope someone in the family kept it.
In that tiny kitchen with the 50s style formica dinette and authentic tin pie safe, she baked the most fabulous pie crust for us as a special treat. She rolled out her dough, cut it into strips and baked it. We ate those strips of flaky crust straight out of the oven with nothing on it. If I could do one thing over again, I would watch and learn how she made that pie crust. I still haven’t perfected mine, but I’m working on it.
talya
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| The original 12 Johnsons 1960’s Johnson reunion. Uncle’s- Ervin, Roy, Woody, Grandpa, Earl, JB, Land, Claris. Aunts- Ruby, Essell, Frances (my Nana), Rena and Virgie |
Musical Pairings:
Alison Krauss, “Down to the River to Pray”
Does anyone have a picture of Aunt Virgie’s outhouse? I think you and John should definitely have an “outdoor johnny”. I think it would add character to the place. Loved this one. Talya’s Mom
P.S. I tried to find that dipper for you Talya.
I hope Lesa has it:)
I always wondered about those two-holers myself. While you are at it you might as well build an outdoor shower too. That way you can get the top layer of grime off before going inside.
John has already talked about an outdoor shower:)
I loved this and the picture…our Johnson aunts and uncles were the best….of course my Daddy was Land,,,he gave us his great sense of humor…well,,where I grew up we had a two holer. when Phyllis came to visit ,,she and I would sit on those and laugh and talk….did not stay long,,,we were very young but great memories.also my neighbor here,across from the ranch has a blue outhouse, you need to look at it sometime ,maybe good idea for your house in Arkansas…thanks again for the special Aunt Vergie story ,,,sure loved her ,,,and I remember the dipper…not sure where it went…yes,,hope Lesa has it…love,gail
Thanks! Lesa, Staci and I probably all 3 went in Aunt Virgie’s outhouse at the same time. We did everything together:)) T.
Great story and picture. You probably know that my dad was very good friends with Ervin. Ervin’s kids grew up in the same gumbo mudhole as my siblings and I. Our families went to school and church together. We often hired out to work for Ervin, and later for Carl and Bobby. I love them all.
This story reminds me that, in the early ’60’s, my dad quit farming for a few years and bought a small, country grocery store. He built a house (sort of, actually large living quarters) that attached to the store and moved our family of 9 kids (11 total) to our new home. He thought he wanted us all to be “close-by”. But, after about a year, we were eating up the profits and driving him insane. So, he sold the store.
Our farm house was being occupied by renters who would not move. So, we had to move into a 2 bedroom house, running cold water only, no hot water, no indoor bathroom, beds wall-to-wall.
I’m the youngest child, I was five years old. My oldest brother was 21 and in college. He was there for the summer and on weekends. He often recalls that when we lived there the best time to go to the toilet was at dinner time; because the flies were all at the table.
Looking back, my family will tell you that some of the very best memories we all have are related to the year we “camped” in the old house on the highway.
I think the mind has a way of blocking the bad stuff, and remembering the good.
I think you are right Kenny, we remember the good and block the bad. Just like childbirth. LOL. I didn’t know you grew up with Uncle Ervin’s kids. We are practically cousins then! T.
What a delightful read!
Thank you!
What a great read and Kenny’s also. Who knew we all had simular past experience. Ha. There was a lady that we stayed with while daddy took momma to the drive-in at Osceola. Not very often did they go anywhere with 4 kids. Mrs. Shoemaker was her name. She lived in a shotgun house with an outdoor toilet. I was 6 or 7 and Lindy would hold my hand’s and I would hold her’s cause we were scared we would fall into the hole of darkness.
P-uhh!! Papaw was a carpenter and he made sure everybody was getting indoor plumbing as we grew up. He donated a lot of his money and time to fix up several elderly peoples bathrooms. We grew up helping him,
That’s great. Thanks for sharing Angi. I’m pretty sure your Melinda “Lindy” was at church camp when we went… now that I think about it.
If your Church Camp was in Ravenden Springs, then yes that’s where we all went in the summer. My grandparents (Cooks) lived just down the road. Papaw built a lot of buildings for that old camp. My Aunts volunteered for the camp.
The comments are enjoyable to read as well! I think this will become one of the favorites!
I can remember going to Aunt Virgies house. One time really stands out. I was spending the weekend at Lesa’s and Im thinking we had a snow storm and didnt have any power. Maybe Lesa can remember more about why we were all staying at Aunt Virgies and not at Lavern and Woody’s. BTW Talya I love reading all your stories……..Lynn
Love that freshly pumped water, always seems cooler and tasty!