In the heart of Rusk County, Texas, lies an artifact not just of utility but of a bygone era—a lavishly designed outhouse enduring through decades of changing sanitary standards. Known as the Arnold Outhouse, this relic, originally belonging to a prominent local lawyer, John Arnold, now resides at the Rusk County Depot Museum. According to a Texas Department of Transportation article, Vickie Armstrong, the museum director, highlighted that this facility was "fancy, and very elaborate for that time period."
Indeed, with its louvred windows used for ventilation, and an additional glass-paned window in the back, the Arnold Outhouse stands out as an opulent three-holer structure. Armstrong, in a statement released by the Texas Department of Transportation, likened its cleanliness and airflow to modern sanitation facilities, saying, "It was clean, it had ventilation, like Buccee's has nice air-conditioning in the bathroom. Yes, this outhouse was great." However, as indoor plumbing became the norm, outhouse use significantly declined, but this particular structure withstood the passage of time.
The survival of the Arnold Outhouse can be attributed to local efforts to preserve it. Armstrong told the Texas Department of Transportation that "when they came in to build the library, Miss Gandy took it upon herself to move the outhouse to her home to save it." The artifact was protected from demolition and later restored to a site near its original location. This act of preservation reflected a broader appreciation within the community for their tangible links to the past.
Recognizing the historical significance of the Arnold Outhouse, the Texas Historical Commission, in conjunction with TxDOT, installed a historical marker—a testament to its uniqueness. Virginia Knapp, former chairman of the commission, played a pivotal role in advancing the request for the marker despite initial reactions. "At first, when we wanted to apply for the marker, there were some giggles and laughs," Armstrong recalled, signaling a change of heart post-installation. "After the marker was installed, the news media, newspapers, everything, came around to see and write about the outhouse."
The Arnold Outhouse is more than just an antiquated restroom; it's a symbol of evolution and a nod to the intricacies of past daily life in East Texas. As Armstrong pointed out to the Texas Department of Transportation, "The outhouses have more or less disappeared now. They are a disappearing piece of history. Which here at the museum we try and keep history alive. That is what we have done with the outhouse." As structures like these vanish from the landscape, the Depot Museum and the communities around it ensure that even the most mundane elements of history are not lost to time.
