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Outhouse Spy

By Capper's Staff
Published on September 28, 2012

Our home was small, without much privacy, so often when I received a letter from my fiancé – off to the outhouse I’d go to read it. A time or two I felt as though I had company. There peeping through a crack in the wall was my sister reading along. I was irritated, but didn’t hold a grudge long as I thought a lot of my sister.

The Montgomery Ward or Sears catalogue served as our toilet paper. I don’t think the black newsprint rubbed off on you as today’s does.

Ruth McMillan
Buffalo, Missouri


Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then Capper’s Weekly asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from Capper’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.