The Legacy of Slatyfork--A History of "Roosevelt's Restrooms": The WPA Toilet Era

 

A History of "Roosevelt's Restrooms": The WPA Toilet Era

While the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a Depression-era jobs program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is known for grand infrastructure projects, it also made a significant contribution to public health through a lesser-known initiative: building sanitary toilets.

The Problem: Outhouses and Public Health

In the 1930s, a staggering one-third of Americans, primarily in rural areas, relied on unsanitary outhouses. This posed a major public health risk, as waste contaminated water sources and spread diseases.

The Solution: The WPA Privy

The WPA stepped in, constructing an estimated 2.3 million sanitary privies across the nation. These weren't your typical outhouses. The WPA privies featured a standardized design:

    Cast concrete base: This made them more durable and easier to clean compared to wooden outhouses.
    Angled toilet seat: For improved comfort and hygiene.
    T-shaped vent: Facilitated proper ventilation and reduced odors.
    Ventilation slits: Allowed for additional airflow within the structure.

The Impact: Public Health & Beyond

The WPA's privy program wasn't just about creating jobs. It significantly improved sanitation in rural America, leading to a decline in diseases.  These privies, sometimes nicknamed "Roosevelt's Restrooms" or "Eleanor's," became a symbol of the New Deal's commitment to public health and well-being.

A Legacy in Concrete

Today, relatively few WPA privies remain. However,  these surviving structures stand as a testament to a crucial era in American sanitation and a reminder of the WPA's lasting impact on public health.  They're a unique chapter in  American history, a story not just of grand dams and bridges, but also of the concrete improvements that made everyday life healthier for millions.

Replica Can be seen at Sharp's Country Store at Slatyfork, WV