Fake outhouses are springing up on the roads and businesses around Unger, WV. In an amusing twist on community statue art projects, colossi collector George Farnham is leading neighbors in a serious civil protest against a new housing development by erecting fake outhouses labeled: "Keep Morgan County Rural."

There are over 80 of the brightly colored sheds (with half-moons) in front of businesses in Berkeley Springs and along Rt. 522. Of course at Farnham's own home there's an outhouse, along with his collection of four giant fiberglass statues (Muffler Man, Big John grocery store clerk, surfer dude, and Santa), which hold over-development protest placards.

Former Washington lawyer George, wife Pam, and his neighbors are up in arms about a housing development going up across the road from the Farnhams. There are no other developments in the sparsely populated hills, where inhabitants rely on wells for water. The connection with outhouses is made in their slogan: "If over-development sucks your well dry, you'll need one of these."

Ironically, the lack of zoning laws allowing the Farnhams to erect giant fiberglass men in their yard may let hordes of serivice slurping, DC-commuting neighborhoods eat up the surrounding land. The Outhouses of Unger protesters hope to stop final approval of the new development. George said "Outhouses will be up indefinitely with more to follow."

Plans for protest outhouses and news about the protest can be found at www.outhousesofunger.com.

[07/02/2006]