Ron Allen displays a photo of the WPA outhouse located at his Hurricane Creek Road residence.

The humble outhouse was the topic of the quarterly meeting of the Upper Vandalia Historical Society, which was held on Sunday, April 27, at the Bancroft Mission. Ron Allen discussed the history of two Great Depression era structures constructed by the Works Progress Administration. One outhouse is still in existence at the Breeze headquarters on Hurricane Creek Road. The other once stood behind the old Hurricane Breeze Office on Main Street in Hurricane. He also discussed outhouses he had experienced during his youth in rural Maine.

After the main presentation was concluded, guests discussed antiques and artifacts they had brought for show and tell, a regular feature of the organization’s meetings. Bob Walden of Poca brought two display cases from his collection of ancient Native American arrowheads, as well as a flint arrowhead he made himself. Terry McCallister brought a set of well dowsing rods, which were used to find sources of water where a well might be dug. He also said that the rods could be used to find graves as well.

John Joseph of Liberty displayed and discussed books that have been in his family for more than one hundred years. The decorative hardcover books told the story of the historic flood of 1913 and the sinking of the Titanic. Illustrated books featuring calamities were the equivalent to today’s videos during the era preceding the electronic age.

Joyce Hanna of Winfield discussed her ongoing historical research and various genealogical projects.

The Upper Vandalia Historical Society meets four times a year to discuss Putnam County and local history. Anyone who has an interest in local history and trivia is invited to attend meetings. The next meeting will be held in July.