Most People Don’t Know The Story Behind This Common Pittsburgh Home Amenity

Most of us Pittsburghers already know about the Pittsburgh toilet. In fact, a lot of us probably have had or currently have one in our homes. But, ask a newcomer to the Burgh about the unique Pittsburgh amenity and you’re likely to get a raised eyebrow or a confused look. Here's the story of the Pittsburgh toilet.

The Pittsburgh toilet, found in many pre-World War II homes in the Pittsburgh-area, is just a toilet in the basement. Nothing fancy. Just a toilet.

Originally, the toilet was placed in the basement without walls or a stall. Today, homeowners will spruce up the Pittsburgh toilet, adding walls or a bathtub and a sink to create a complete basement bathroom.

One theory is the popular Pittsburgh amenity sprang from the days when the coal mines and steel mills were running fast and furious.

Many coalminers and steel mill workers would return home after a long day’s work and change their clothes in the basement before heading upstairs with the family.

It naturally made sense to add a toilet – now known as the Pittsburgh toilet – to the basement. Some homes even added a shower where family members could shower after work in the mines.

Of course, that’s just one theory behind the Pittsburgh toilet. Another is that the basement toilet was never meant to be used. Instead, it was installed as a sewage pipe and if it overflowed it would cause little damage to the basement.

Click here to read more about one architect’s theory about the basement toilet.

Do you remember the first time you saw your first Pittsburgh toilet? Did your family members use it or was it merely used as a sewage pipe?