Arnold Outhouse
Henderson, Rusk County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Prominent Henderson businessman and civic leader John R. Arnold moved his family to this property in 1908. He added a second story to the home (razed in 1966) that already existed at the site. He also built a number of structures around the property, including this outhouse. It was larger than most standard outhouses of its day, and the milled pattern on the door and window facings matched that of the large Arnold house. The Arnold Outhouse is preserved to illustrate part of the lifestyle of 19th and early 20th-century Texans.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When Henderson businessman and civic leader John R. Arnold settled his family on this property in 1908, he added a second story to the existing home and put up a number of outbuildings—among them this unusually large outhouse. Its milled door and window trim was made to match the fine detailing of the main Arnold house, since demolished. Preserved on its own, it offers a candid glimpse of everyday domestic life for well-to-do Texans a century ago.
Why it matters
Ordinary structures like this one preserve the texture of daily life that grander monuments often omit, reminding us how Americans actually lived before modern plumbing and utilities.
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Related people
- · John R. Arnold
Themes & tags
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