Growing up in a century-old house came with quirks—creaky floors, drafty windows, and a spooky basement. But what puzzled
me most was the lone toilet sitting out in the open down there. No walls, no sink—just a toilet. We never used it, but it stuck in my mind.
Years later, while restoring old homes, I discovered this wasn’t unique. These were called “Pittsburgh potties,”
common in older homes, especially in industrial cities like Pittsburgh. Back then, steelworkers and laborers
would enter through basement doors to clean up before going upstairs, helping keep the house tidy.
But these toilets served another purpose—flood control. Before modern sewer systems, backups were common during
storms or overuse. These basement toilets, placed directly above sewer entry points, acted as overflow relief.