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. If sewage backed up, it would exit through the basement toilet instead of flooding the main floors—easier to clean on concrete than in finished bathrooms.
Though most are unused today, some still sit quietly in dusty corners, relics of practicality. So if you ever spot a random toilet in a basement, know it’s more than odd design—it’s a clever solution born of hard work and smart plumbing from a bygone era.