Disease at the National?

[Jim Garrett]

(03-09-2013 05:56 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(03-08-2013 09:57 PM)MaddieM Wrote:  Did they have toilets as we know it? If not.... Where on earth did they 'go'?

Maddie, I was once curious about this regarding Ford's Theatre. If there were a capacity of c.1500-1700, and c.200(?) "had to go" at intermission, where did they go? So I wrote Ford's and received the following reply:

"Also, noted in the "National Park Service Historic Structure's Report" of Ford's Theatre (circa 1963), it does not give any indication that any indoor bathrooms/restrooms existed back then. What would have existed at that time just outside behind the theatre were small "outhouses."

Roger, you are on the right path. The Historic Structure Report does not address any plumbing. The copies of the florr plans (original draw by John T. Ford while in Old Capitol, does not illustrate any facilities. There was the covered alley between Fords and the Star Saloon, which led back to Baptist alley. The best guess is this was a convenient way to get back to privys in the alley for both Ford's and the Star Saloon.