Cedar Lake, Michigan: Two-Story Outhouse

This two-story outhouse has been given some TLC since the previously posted tip!

I've visited this outhouse two times, once with my mom and dad and once with my brother. I've talked with [owners] Vicky Cole and her husband and told them what they should do to at least slow down the leaning. I suggested cutting down the trees around the outhouse, especially the roots, and some simple trenching to keep rainwater from surrounding the outhouse, and to diagonally brace the structure with 2x4s to stiffen it up. My father was really interested in this outhouse and has many photos of it, as do I.

My brother, grandfather and I were there in July, 1967. We told a joke about a two-story outhouse -- and he took us there! We were amazed. The building next to it was still standing in 1967. Also, my grandfather lived nearby and worked in the train depot near the outhouse in the years around World War I, and he knew the Nelson family that ran the store. This brings back fond memories for me.

This outhouse is leaning to the north, and considerably overgrown with vegetation, but still visible from the road. We stopped by to see it in May 2008.

Vicki Cole has walked and driven past an abandoned two-story outhouse in her town for 34 years. Now, she and her husband own it.