Will the real Thomas F. Harney, PLEASE STAND UP!

[Houmes]

(08-01-2016 09:16 PM)SSlater Wrote:  

(07-28-2016 05:12 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(07-27-2016 11:54 PM)SSlater Wrote:  Since I am trying to figure out just What was Harney trying to do to the White House, I needed to know a little about its construction and when the work was done. Also, in another Post (some time ago) we wondered "when did the White House get indoor plumbing?" So, then Laurie publishes a terrific story in this month's "Courier", in which she has a line that says - on the east end of the White House was a row of "outhouses".
This pushed me to hunt deeper - now we know that the White House got "dressing rooms with toilets attached - here-to-fore- entirely lacking". in 1902.
FYI. Because all pipes are buried in he walls and would be difficult, if not impossible, to repair, they are made of Brass. (Brass is rust proof and more resistant to damage) but expensive. (A silly post, but informative.)

Be careful with terminology because "outhouses" often referred to "outbuildings," meaning additional structures not attached to the main house.

Sure wish I could find William Seale's communication of about 30 years ago describing the large sewer drains that were there during the Civil War and large enough for a man to walk in. It may be in the Hall/Tidwell files, but life is too hectic right now for me to do research.

The article that I found on the internet described individual buildings around the White House - the Stables, the Carriage house, etc." And the row of outhouses. The outhouses were located on the East end near the Big Big all purpose room. The outhouses were located where they would be most needed. The article continues with mention of the large amount of new piping being added for the new toilets. This does not mention the Large Pipes that we suspect were in use, but it does tell us to SEARCH!

The original sewer line from the White House was designed by James Hoban, and it was placed during the original construction or during a reconstruction in 1816-18. It was constructed of bricks in an arched fashion, three feet high at the highest point. There were several pipes in the walls of the White House and their purpose was to carry water from the roof gutters and water closets (the first one was built in 1800), channeling it to the sewer line out on to the plains south of the house. At the time of construction, that area was a swamp. Drainage was poor, with the basement floors having leaks and seepage. The kitchen was in the basement and one could only speculate on the various combined smells. Incidentally, the servants were not allowed to use any toilet in the White House. Best reference for White House details is by William Seale, The President's House: A History. Washington, DC: White House Historical Association, 2008.