Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - March 9, 1986
By Deborah Curtis
Vigo County Historical Society

Rack preceded automatic dryer

Until the advent of indoor plumbing, bathrooms were virtually nonexistent in American homes. Water had to be carried in buckets from wells and heated over fires for household use. Not too distant from each house was the "outhouse," its function supplemented indoors by concealed pots kept in bedrooms or adjoining special chambers.

By 1850, dependable supplies of running water--hot and cold-- were available in nearly 100 American cities. This development, along with improved sewage systems, led to the appearance of mechanized bathrooms in nearly every urban American home.

Most country homes, however, retained more primitive bathroom and toilet facilities for years to come.

These developments had a significant impact on American architecture in the post-Civil War era. Essential in the design of the best modern houses and hotels were completely equipped mechanized bathrooms.

Along with the plumbing (including tubs, sinks and toilets) came all the accouterments of a well-fitted bathroom, including clean towels, mirrors, shaving stands and even bars of floating soap.

This week's historical treasure--a folding wooden towel and clothes drying rack--could probably have been found in a typical American bathroom from the mid-19th century through the advent of automatic clothes dryers in the mid-20th century. (Some practical people probably stilll use them.)

When all its arms are extended, the rack is a little more than 4 feet in diameter and 39 inches tall. When the arms are folded down, however, the rack is only 4 1/2 inches in diameter, making it easy to store.

While this model is cleverly utilitarian in function and design--its parts are round wooden dowels joined by metal braces--some Victorial bathrooms sported ornately turned hardwood towel racks, presenting a more elegant touch.

The towel rack on display in the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, was donated by Mrs. Waldo Mitchell in 1976. It origianlly came from the estate of Blanche Rippetoe.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.