“The “Outhouse Program” is a tongue-in-cheek survey of an aspect of our ancestors’ lives which has with few exceptions been unfairly overlooked in the history books.  We aim to help set the record straight about this fascinating subject, discussing among other things design, construction, placement in relationship to other buildings, plants strategically located nearby, and a plethora of other topics.”

David Braswell is a native of Belleville, Illinois, and his mother’s family were pioneer settlers and entrepreneurs of the Mascoutah area, having come to the USA from Germany in the mid 1800s.  David teaches German at Southwestern Illinois College and is deeply involved in the study of area history and preservation of old buildings, including a number of Belleville homes and a bed and breakfast which he and his wife Marcia operate in Maeystown, Illinois.

Mardy Eisloeffel is also a Belleville native who can trace his father’s family back to Germany in the mid-1800s. Mardy is a retired English teacher at SWIC and still works there part time as a tutor. He too appreciates history and historic objects. He lives in his great-grandfather’s vintage-1893 farmhouse and has filled it with antique clocks, parlor organs, phonographs, radios, and pretty much anything antique.”

October 26, Wednesday, 7:00 pm. See agenda below.
SCHS General Meeting with presentation – location to be announced
Please note: Doors open at 6:30 pm to browse displays and exhibits, meet the speaker for the evening. Brief business meeting at 7:00 pm to about 7:20. Refreshments for about 20 minutes. Main presentation starts about 7:40.