1900s
The subway system had 1,676 toilets and employees conducted regular inspections.
Read More1897
New York Mayor sends committee to Europe to assess various models of what Americans call ‘comfort stations’. London facilities impress them but the street urinals of Paris offend.
Read More1894
National Purity Congress finds no toilets or urinals in Chicago and only a few in parks in St Louis and Brooklyn but 500 in Birmingham and 800 in Liverpool and urges US to follow Europe.
Read More1894
Tout a l’égout campaign in Paris hooks buildings and businesses to sewer. London initiates inspections of WCs for workers in bakeries and food establishments.
Read More1893
Chicago World’s Fair has 3,000 toilets with washbasins, most installed by the Chow Sanitary Company, at 32 locations around the fair. Simple ones are free to users; fancier ones cost 5 cents.
Read More1892
Overall progress in British sanitary system is a source of civic pride – waterborne sewerage combined with new public health laws.
Read More1890s
The number of facilities for women lags behind those of men. Many feel that public conveniences will bring women to city streets in ways not congruent with contemporary ideals of femininity. Advocates such as George Bernard Shaw point out that working-class women cannot afford the penny charge.
Read More1889
London’s first municipal public convenience for women is built underground in Piccadilly Circus
Read More1870s
Ladies’ Sanitary Association campaigns for public conveniences for women in the face of popular sentiments that women had more self control and could hold it.
Read More1875
Thanks to James Moir’s activism, Glasgow builds nearly 200 urinals. George Jennings and Walter MacFarlane both were passionate about the civilizing properties of sanitary appliances.
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