1894 map of outhouses in east Shaw;
the number of outhouses per Square is
noted in red.

Occasionally, Washingtonians have the penchant of glamorizing the way things used to be. But as In Shaw’s discovery of some historic photographs proves, living in the here and now is an incredibly good thing.

Yes, indoor plumbing existed in many homes in the 30s, but not all homes. Shaw was referred to as a slum in the 1940s & 50s, based on number of homes lacking indoor plumbing. Oh and the crime, but plumbing played a part too. For several Shaw dwellings, being historically accurate would mean having it be appropriate for poor black laborers and laundresses. Nothing fancy. Possibly overcrowded due to racial covenants and rules.

Historical accuracy also means you should have a poopshack.

Anyone striving for such accuracy would undoubtedly have to submit one of the most hilarious pieces of paperwork DCRA could possibly receive.

But digging deeper proves that it wasn’t just Shaw. According to a study [PDF] published in 2002 by the D.C. Historic Preservation Division of the D.C. Office of Planning, a “survey to determine the potential cause for infectious diseases” counted 8,959 outhouses in the city of Washington in the year 1894 — one function of rampant homelessness prevalent in several areas of the District at the turn of the century.