No Water Reservoir Square No Water Reservoir Square
Finding a great privy can be maddeningly elusive while exploring
New York's central Hudson Valley
by Daniel S Magee
Many months had passed since digging a genuinely satisfying privy, and the mind-boggling revisiting of potential excavation sites, with no firm leads forthcoming, was daunting.
Photo 1 - Across the Harlem River old stadium and new (back center), from Sutton rooftop.
As you may know, the process by which historical digging
permissions are acquired is often circuitous, regularly involving
many tedious hours researching and networking and nearly always
becomes stricken with bouts of drought. 
This happens no
matter how much effort is applied or what level of natural
ability you may have.
While backyards with hidden subterranean privy vaults and cisterns containing antique bottles may be plentiful in number, especially in older cities, they can be quite difficult to gain access to, for a very long list of reasons. To heighten the intrigue, these are also systematically destroyed during full-scale renovation work, causing whatever discarded items were in them to be unconsciously recycled into construction or landfill projects where dirt is needed.
Photo 2 - House from last year's dig.
Just after sunrise, looking east from the newly constructed
dozen-level Sutton condo (so named for Percy Sutton, one-time
Manhattan Borough president and a leading figure responsible for
beginning the revitalization process in Harlem)
at Colonial Park
Harlem, the borough of the Bronx can be seen a mile in the
distance. Across the river from this uptown Manhattan
neighborhood and right next to the old stadium, the construction
crews and cranes are busily assembling the new Yankee Stadium for
the second year now (photo 1).
Photo 3 - Yard from last year's dig.
But more to the point, clear sky and no smog equals low humidity and generally more tolerable heat in New York City, despite sensationalized news reports that it will likely be "95 degrees or higher again today, folks ...with an average heat index of 105 degrees or greater!" Likewise, without as much concrete and far less asphalt, the central Hudson Valley 75 miles to the north should feel even less oppressive, a consideration which might matter later on in the event we are fortunate enough to be let onto a particular property at Reservoir Square, a long anticipated location without any shade. (Reservoir Square, FYI, was home to the first reservoir built for the sole purpose of putting out fires.)
When looked at from the front (photo 2), the house next door to the one being considered today is deceptively smaller looking, the yard minuscule in comparison. The good-natured owner seemed certain that it had been constructed late, around 1900. Instinctively doubting this was the entire story, her warm invitation to dig the privy there last summer was accepted.
 |
 |
| Photo 4 | Photo 5 |
By normal upstate standards, that residential privy was large
in comparison to many others encountered around Poughkeepsie.
Square shaped and built from common fieldstone, its inner
dimensions were 6 by 6 by 8 feet deep.
It was resting
beneath the foliage at the back left corner of a sprawling
vegetable and flower garden (photo 3) and had an interesting
intact layer from before, during and just after the Civil War. In
fact, it was later learned that the first house to occupy the
spot was built around 1860. Admittedly not quite as extensive as
a prime New York City dig, but a salient example reminiscent of
many average ones there; a good reason for returning to Reservoir
Square when nothing else is available.
Photo 6 - This photo and most of the others, were taken a week after the dig was completed (back center) and it shows the general state of things atop the privy for many months.
It's true that the highly sought after period of glass-making
pertaining to medicines, inks, sodas/beers and so on, basically
from 1850-1865, can be maddeningly elusive while exploring in the
Hudson Valley. Most outhouse holes were thoroughly dipped out
from time to time and then reused into the 20th century, even
after plumbing was installed. Many completely filled in with
nothing but earth after the final cleaning. Abundant evidence
compiled from a growing body of excavations shows many of them
were still being used as late as the 1930s.
There's no way to
know for sure if these were only occupied occasionally as
secondary or back-up necessities from the last dipping on,
something time-tested, trusty and reliable in cases of sewer
trouble or other emergencies, but the outcome is similar either
way.
To add to the unpredictably challenging nature of digging, the locale is riddled with undulating subsurface rock formations, various underground springs, long ago filled in creeks and mill ponds and clay beds throughout, known to support vast water pockets, complications which require ingenuity and tenacity just about any time you dig.
Photo 7 - Looking towards the privy from the backdoor.
On a positive note, ground water turned out to be a totally unnecessary concern on this particular trip.
Once upstate, out of the car and parked at the edge of the
hill, I headed cautiously over the grassy driveway (photo 4 and
5), and even without a functioning olfactory system it was clear
that this site was altogether different from the neighboring one
we had dug last year. 
Someone had taken the long spoiled contents of the house's refrigerator and pantry and thrown it onto the lawn near a midden of black bags full of mystery garbage, all attracting a buzzing legion of flies, wasps vying for turf midair around the place where the privy was located (photo 6).
The electricity to the building had been shut off for eight months, which guaranteed the ambitious humming would continue for sometime.
After probing the area most likely to produce results (photo 7) and hitting what felt like solid rock or concrete all over the place, I continued scoping while waiting for the owner to return.
Photo 8 - A lone soldier atop a striking Civil War memorial
As many diggers know, appearing too eager, too hardworking and too optimistic can be a potentially ruinous mistake. It gives an erroneous impression of the situation, one which can cause certain kinds of people to fall victim to an overly simplistic manic state. This astonishing condition thoroughly convinces the proprietor that a weighty treasure-box of gold ingots and/or brightly colored and priceless faceted-stones mixed in with large, cut diamonds, profuse amounts of cash and antique coinage lie hidden on their land. Without a quick enough reaction in the right direction the dig is postponed indefinitely.
In due time it was apparent that each poke around the yard was
barren, that nothing more interesting than gravel was being
pierced by the tip of the probe, except for the back corner. 
A cloudless day,
the sun's formidable rays were beaming and would not subside
anytime soon. The deal up to this point was to hold tight until
after the owner appeared again, until his mind was fully made up
about privy diggers. In other words: "How valuable were the
objects bound to be that were apt to be uncovered while
descending in that particular location that day?"
With nothing but time and not wanting to disappear too long, I revisited the immediate surroundings ruminating on the layout and style of the houses. They encircled a lone soldier atop a striking Civil War memorial (photo 8). As many will attest, these war monuments, whether up North, down South, in the city or the country or points in between, often inspire bottle hounds and other tactile seekers. After all, it is the ultimate time in bottle-circulating and bottle-tossing history.
Photo 9 - Memorial at Reservoir Square: To The Patriotism Of The Men Of Dutchess And Columbia Counties Who Served In The 128th Regiment In The Civil War 1861-1865...
This particular statue memorializes the 128th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (nicknamed Old Steady) from Dutchess and Columbia counties (photo 9). Its placement commemorates the killed, wounded, detained (most notably at Salisbury Prison near Charlotte, North Carolina, a place where over a third of the 128th's detained soldiers died from starvation, disease and exposure) and the regiment's many battlefield engagements. These included the Battle of Cedar Creek, where half its numbers were lost; a monument to this regiment can also be found at Middletown, Va.
Equal numbers of us develop a curious interest in large-scale
water circulating-systems, the fire department to some degree and
public sewerage in general. 
These things,
which strike a familiar chord with many, are linked to indoor
plumbing-installation and the eventual extinction of outhouses.
Reservoir Square, known earlier as Cannon Street Hill to locals, as noted earlier, was home to the first reservoir built for the purpose of putting out fires and is linked to the great fire of May 12, 1836. After a period of uncertainty, the deed for this spot was finally obtained from Capt. Joseph Harris, on May 19, 1834 for $1,000. A board of trustees, including Matthew Vassar (a man later responsible for building Vassar College, 1 1/2 miles east of Reservoir Square), oversaw the construction of the reservoir capable of supplying the "Village" with enough water from the Falkill Creek, via a large water wheel, water pipes and hydrants laid out as far afield as Clover Street (1 mile west) and other locations deemed "important," to put out Poughkeepsie's occasional fires.
Photo 10 - A remnant of the water source which inspired the Poughkeepsie areas earlier Indian name "Uppuqui-ipis-ing". Nearby there's a sizable stand of cattail reeds growing from an underground spring...
On Nov. 5, 1835, The Poughkeepsie Eagle wrote: "The
reservoir has been completed at a cost of $30,000 and all
controversies have been settled." However, due to extensive
heat and drought that year it was not filled with water until
late December. The following May, the town's most extensive
conflagration took place, one which burned every building on the
south side of Main Street for many blocks, and also several
wooden houses on the north side, too.
Astonishingly, during this frightful event the newly built
reservoir was once again temporarily empty, this time for
repairs.
Prior to the reservoir, and the first water department, which wasn't officially started until 1831, Poughkeepsians were expected to keep on hand five pails to be used in case of fire. Males particularly were required to turn out and form "bucket lines" during these alarming events. Between 1803 and 1805 at Court House Corner, Main and Garden and Main and South Hamilton streets, respectively, three large wells (the latter positioned nearby the Congress Tavern of today, located on the recently renovated "400 block") were dug for the purposes of gathering water during fire emergencies. At this time, the first fire truck was obtained and housed in James Emmot's barn, located somewhere on Market Street.
More relevant to the privies being dug than to Reservoir Square specifically, another pressing issue by the mid-19th century was disease, often brought on by ingesting contaminated drinking water. Ironically, from the beginning of its European colonization, the area was home to remarkably good drinking water which flowed over and through to the present city. Initially, almost every backyard had endless quantities of fresh water, this mainly pulled from wells. Over time it was discovered that many of these were located a bit too close to active outhouses.
Photo 12 - This circa 1795 quart size black glass example was right in the middle of a cache of plain bottles from much later.
Significantly, the word Poughkeepsie has origins relating directly to spring water, evolving from a vaguely similar sounding Indian phrase used to designate the general area. "Uppuqui-ipis-ing" was a place in the wilderness along the "Mahicanituk" ("the river which flows both ways," known as the Hudson today) where indigenous people gathered abundant cattail reeds (descendents of which still grow there today) for the purpose of making lodges, from most accounts rested peacefully and enjoyed the continuous fresh water supply. Their three-part phrase evolved over time into "Apokeepsing" then "Poughkeepsing," etc., and ultimately Poughkeepsie, by the mostly Dutch and English newcomers at the time. It was taken to mean "the reed-covered lodge by the little water place." To some degree this water source still runs today through/across Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery (photo 10) and into the river at Mine Point, just under two miles south of the Bardavon Opera House. (Erected in 1869, the Bardavon is the oldest continuously active theater in New York State and one of the oldest in the nation.)
Even before the time of the Civil War, destruction and/or death caused by runaway fires was only one big concern involving adequate supplies of easily accessible water in the city. Seepage from privy vaults along with other water supply contaminants caused rampant illness among Poughkeepsie's citizenry, inspiring this quote: "A fine place to live, with fine schools and churches and railroad accommodations, and well governed, but, oh, so sickly."
As a direct result of the early deaths and bad health suffered for so long, the city later welcomed the nation's first "sand filtration drinking water system," completed by fall, 1872, utilizing water originating directly from the river and filtered through a sand system. It was constructed near the river, which was pumped into the home of Water Board President Edward Storm, its first recipient.
 |
 |
| Photo 11 - Typical collection of generic finds. | Photo 13 |
Poughkeepsians distrusted anything pumped from the
sufficiently polluted Hudson, filtered or otherwise, continued to
pull water from backyard wells and relieved themselves daily in
privies stationed nearby. 
This process went
on until the wells ran dry or their users were convinced that a
substantial amount of their medical suffering and sickly
appearance was likely linked to putrid well water. Furthermore,
along with countless other sources, it was common knowledge that
the Lunatic Asylum on the hill, one mile north of the city line,
regularly pumped its raw sewage through a conduit leading
directly into the stewing Hudson. Even nowadays, some locals
refer to all tap water originating from the vicinity of
Poughkeepsie disparagingly as "Hudson River Cocktails."
This is arguably something not far off the mark, judging by its
distinctive flavor.
Photo 14 - Pontiled examples of B&P Lyons Powder, Dutcher's Dead Shot For Bed Bugs and Hobensack's Medicated Worm Syrup.
After a sufficient digression into historical environs, a familiar tone was detected, not exactly gabbling but approaching from down near Main Street somewhere. One that was difficult to miss incidentally. I righted myself at its first jarring note and soon after was retracing my earlier steps and heading over the same driveway returning to the site.
"Hey, what's your name again, and exactly what is it you want to do here today on my property?!" the owner shot out loudly. "I'm looking for the old bottles as we discussed earlier," I said. "Trying to locate the privy base underground, if you're still OK with it ... before the land is changed. Ya know, the other day you mentioned something to my friend about dumpsters coming soon, the yard getting torn up, any solid hits with the probe back in the corner over there earlier ... wandered out on Clinton to get shade ...waiting for you before opening it up."
After some weird confusion over what I wished to accomplish and which kind of bottles I'd be heading home with at the end of the dig. He had a variety of recently emptied modern cans and bottles out front which were waiting to be returned to the local beverage store.
The first test dig commenced in the stony back corner section of the property. It was the only one needed. With each shovelful splayed on the recently hacked down weeds (a maneuver which helps keep bug infestations and other things to a minimum) the confident outlook returned as the loosened material told a new story to a thirsty body and near heat-addled brain. Underneath was no outcrop at all. No undulating stone and no previously dug privy either!
 |
 |
| Photo 15 | Photo 16 |
What was found instead was a small homemade patio fashioned from old bluestone steps. These were laid evenly across the mouth of a curiously oval, stone-lined pit. Judging by the nicely packed bright white stove-ash deposited underneath, and several late blown-period bottle shards lurking therein, not much had been disturbed in a century. Clearly, it was what any famished digger needed to see after two protracted hours biding time while waiting for the unmistakable and definite signs of actual digging-permission to manifest.
The owner was now reasonably convinced that there never was any intention of taking home his bottle-returns and an equally good chance that no long forgotten treasure-chest would soon be uncovered either. For the duration of the dig nobody was present. Save for an occasional curiosity visit from the other owner next door, now and then carrying with her a glass jar brimming with Hudson River Cocktail.
While the sparse upper layer (photo 11) was being excavated on the way to the privy floor, things changed gradually. For the last three feet a packed layer emerged. Except for a quart-size 1790s black-glass bottle (photo 12), which was standing straight up in the layer, 1850s-60s bottles (photo 13) and artifacts were discovered from then on (photo 14-18).
 |
 |
| Photo 17 - 12-sided umbrella ink. | Photo 18 - umbrella base. |
At one point an amethyst Lyons Powder with severe lip damage and open pontil, then another in amber glass in the same condition was dislodged two feet away, a crushed umbrella ink resting under a brick nearby. An amber seam-sided historic-style flask, which though captivating while being removed in the shadows of the hole almost always appears without any embossing on Poughkeepsie digs.
Soon thereafter an amethyst Mrs. S.A. Allen's Worlds Hair
Restorer, displaying a dime-sized bruise at the rear, one which
regrettably became a finger-sized hole upon drying out; a
forest-green Wisharts Pine Tree Cordial with no lip at all, and
so on. 
Hours later, sufficiently sweat-drenched and dry-mouthed, we were surrounded by a swelling pile of intact bottles, damaged items, shards, artifacts and ashy-fill mixed in with plenty of bona fide seed-filled-sediment known far and wide as "night soil." With churned debris flying, the solo nine-foot descent (to hardpan measuring from present day yard level) continued to produce many discoveries, including 14 pontiled examples and many others just missing the mark.
Photo 19 - Common bottles from varying periods dug up at Reservoir Square.
At day's end, over 60 more common antique bottles (photo 19) found a new resting place next door and 35 others, more appealing to those who realize the work to dig them up), were wrapped in newspaper and taken out to the street.
Today. there is no reservoir or any water noticeable at the surface of this location, and hasn't been for generations. Instead, one finds a small park with a statue and cannon at the center. Around that is a flower garden, around which is flanked by city sidewalks. There's some pole lighting and trees here and there, too, and a regularly trimmed lawn.
Dusk settles in slowly around Reservoir Square during the summer months and while busy there it becomes clearer how monuments intended to commemorate action and stir movement, can do just that (photo 20).
A semi-complete list of Civil War era discoveries:
… American... Manufactured... Middlebury. O... Vitreous Stone Bottle, Warranted Not To Absorb (shoe or stove blacking pottery bottle or possibly some kind of ink, faintly stamped, with picture of an eagle crouching on branches)
… Calverts Carbolic Acid
… Dutchers Dead Shot for Bed Bugs
… Dutton's Vegetable Discovery
… B.A. Fahnestocks Vermifuge E.H. Flagg's Instantaneous Relief
… J. Hauel Perfumer
… Hill's Hair Dye # 1 
… Hobensack's Medicated Worm Syrup
… Howe & Sterns Family Dye Colors
Photo 20 - Soldier at dusk.
… Huile D'olive Superfine Bordeax (on seal)
… Dr Langley's Root & Herb Bitters
… R. Low & Son Perfumers London
… B & P N.Y. Lyons Powder (olive green)
… Dr Sanfords Liver Invigorator
… Schenck's Seaweed Tonic
… Sterling's Ambrosia Hair Dressing
… Wells NY (small square jar)
… Dr L. Williams Universal Pain Extractor
… Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup
… Dr Wistars Balsam of Wild Cherry
… 4 umbrella inks (including 1 twelve-sided example).
References:
Bardavon. (2008). Bardavon: Legendary Performances Since 1869. Retrieved August 2008 from Web site: http://www.bardavon.org/
The Bivouac: Dealers in quality Civil War books, art & music. Prison Diary of Pvt. Edward S. Wells 128th New York. Retrieved August 2008 from Web site: http://www.bivouac books.com/bbv4i3s2.htm
Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbooks 1940-1945. (1940). Poughkeepsie, NY: Dutchess County Historical Society.
Libby Prison Official Publication #12. Retrieved August 2008 from Web site: http://richmond thenandnow.com/Libby-Prison-Official-Publication-12.html
Paris, B. (2008). Percy Sutton. The Sutton Times, 1.
Platt, E. (1905). Eagle's History of Poughkeepsie From The Earliest Settlements 1683-1905. New York: Platt & Platt
Reynolds, H.W. (1937). How The City of Poughkeepsie Was Founded. "The 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the City of Poughkeepsie, NY" Transcribed by John Galbraith (2000)
Salisbury Confederate Prison Association. (2002). POW Deaths. Retrieved August 2008 from Web site: http://www.salisburyprison.org /POWDeaths.htm
Swain, C. (2007). Civil War Album. Retrieved August 2008 from Web site: http://www.hmdb. org/marker.asp?marker=3397
Town of Poughkeepsie. (2008). Welcome to the Town of Poughkeepsie. Retrieved August 2008 from Web site: http://www.townof Pough keepsiecom/index.htm
Did you enjoy this digging story? Every month Antique Bottle and Glass Collector magazine gives you neat digging stories like this one.
Why not subscribe today!
It's easy just click here. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Return me to: HOME PAGE - Go to: OTHER DIGGING STORIES