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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
8 ~Restoring outhouse to o i original luster CD > o Z I by Anthony J. Howard just had one condition: that it be big and needy,\ Ruth said. (/) ~ Sayville residents Ruth and Chuck Z Broadbent are dedicated restora- ~ tionists. They would have to be to take 5 on the complete restoration of a centu- <..> ry old outhouse they found behind a ~ barn at their Gillette Avenue hom.e. The couple has spent the two years tearing down and rebuilding sections of the house, which has been added on to several times since itt was origi,nally built. Much of the work on the house's interiors and exterior is complete, though a few rooms still need attention. So they decided to tackle the outhouse. :s The Broadbents, with the help of (f) Michael Beck of CMC Construction, ~ are almost fmished reconstructing the once functional outdoor facility to its original condition. Of course, this undertaking begs this question: Why? \Because we're restorationists. We like to buy old, needy houses that no one else would dream of, and try to restore it to its original grandeur; to give it its soul back, 71 Ruth Broadbent said~ .. Actually, we couldn't stand to trash it. Since it was in pretty much halfway decent condition, we thought it would be important to restore it, 71 said Chuck Broadbent, who is the associate provost at Dowling College. The Broadbents moved to Sayville from Pittsburgh two years ago, where they restored two Victorian era houses that had lost some of their original grandeur over time. \We try to pick houses with historic significance that need a great deal of work to restore,\ Ruth explained. The couple then pours themselves into the restoration efforts while they live in the house. It is that love of restoration that led them to buy their Sayville home, origi- nally built by the Terry family sometime around the 1840's. Chuck Broadbent actually purchased the house before his wife had seen it, a sin most husbands would never recover from. \He knew I Like the main house, the outhouse was also added onto as needed~ Against the back wall, two larger adult seats are placed, presumably situated to increase capacitY. To the side is a much smaller seat, lower than the other two. \We believe they added on the baby's seat afien'Vards, when it became necessary,\ Ruth Broadbent said. Originally hired to rebuild the old barn on the Broadbent's property next to the Gillette House, Beck also took on the outhouse project because he shares the Broadbent's preservationist yearning. Though he also does new construction, \restorations are my first love,\ Beck said. And while an outhouse may seem like nothing more than a novelty in this mod- ern era of indoor plumbing, the struc- ture's design and craftsmanship showed that its original users took it quite seri- ously, Beck said. \It's solid construction. They actually framed it, with good planks on the inside walls,\ he said. Along with a solid roof design, the out- house has held up against a century's worth of pounding from the elements. Of course, the outhouse's functional use will not be tested. It will likely just be placed in the back of the Broadbent's yard, where it will sit in testament to an earlier time .• ~ :, • • .' •• ' • \ .., •• f • '. , ,.'« \ . ' . \ '. , .... . ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE ---- Suffolk Campus ---- OPEN HOUSE ~. • :..tIII MEET THE PEOPLE WHO: 'CAN REALLY HELP • YOU PLA N YOUR : FUTURE. • • SUNDAY LEARN ABOUT OUR : N·O~TE'.· M.' HER 13th PROGRAMS, : I , n SCHOLARSHIP & • FINANCIAl, AID • 1 P. M OP.PORTUNITIES FROM: . .; .• EXPERT COUNSELORS & : ADVISORS. : (516) 447-32129 MEET STUDENTS, • • 'ACULTY & ALUMNI. • • • 155 W. I~()e Boulevard, Patchogue, NY 11772 • St, josejJh's College a We're Commuter Friendly Chuck and Ruth Broadbent give Michael Beck, with hammer, a hand with the door of this century old C)uthouse. Suffolk County News/Anthony J. Howard How THE SMARr MoNEY DEcORATES FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Save 20010 on all drapery hardware, swag holders and decorative finials. Save 20010 on all round table bases . Save 20010 on all books- great gift ideas! Save 20010 on pillm.v fonlls, tapestry squares, trims, tassels and notions. Plus, we'll show you great no sew or simple sewing treatments so you can deck the halls or any room in your home. Sale dates: Nov. 6 - 20. CALICO CORNERS® • f \ I: R I (~'\ I. I I ~ ) (', I' k .. \ II () '\ t ~I '. .' ~ . ' \ - . . SuffolkCounry, e lllkt' Grlllit', 2()73 Ncsf(I\s f HII'.II.e(516J3bl-6853 M'n· Sill. 1/1- 6, T\ (. TIIII'\ til q, 5,,,,. I:! . r; Nassau,Cou\ty-Carlr I'IIlCt', 233 Cit·\ CLlPt' R,f.\ (516) 7011·6869 M\\ ./. n\ /11.1/. T\ S\t. III· t>. Sill' I.:! ;
