Restroom Construction

[Fred L. Kuhns]

    James,     It is good news that I hear that Zack will start work on the restrooms.  I wonder is the construction form the ground up or from per layed foundation ?       Thanks,    Fred  L. Kuhns                       

[Dave Buczkowski]

Fred;
I believe the underground water and waste lines have to be brought in as well as the electrical. Right now only the gravel/crushed rock pad is in place.
Dave

[Mike Fox]

Fred, the building will be built on a cement pad. There was talk of cement block walls but I don't know if that design has changed yet or not. No matter what it is, anything is better than the Porta-Pot.

[Fred L. Kuhns]

  Dave and Mike,   Thanks for the information about the new restroom building.  I know that Zack will do a great job and have great results.   Thanks  Fred L. Kuhns

[James Patten]

There was talk of cement block walls but I don't know if that design has changed yet or not.

That decision is still up in the air, I think.  People keep going back and forth between cement walls and something else.

[Wayne Laepple]

For my money, cement block walls would be the way to go. The interior walls could be painted with an industrial latex acrylic paint, making  cleaning very easy. There's nothing to say the exterior couldn't have a wooden facade to make it fit in with the look of other outbuildings on the property.

[Mike Fox]

There was also talk of that Wayne, a block building being sheathed with board and batten. That would be for looks only though. Trying to keep things looking like they belong there.

[John McNamara]

I think that board and batten sheathing over cement block would be nice. I had wanted the building to look like a WW&F station, but that would require windows. I proposed fake windows (Sublette NM and Plymouth NH), but Zack said, "Women don't like windows." I explained that they were fake and how that was done, but he just repeated, "Women don't like windows," and walked away. I think he proposes small awning-style windows up high under the eaves, which is fine since we need windows, but I'd still like to add fake windows and/or doors to give a station appearance.

I propose that people consider the following examples that are nice: NH rest area northbound at MA line, ME rest areas at Kennebunk. It would be good to also consider examples that are offensive in appearance and odor: NH liquor store at Hampton southbound, ME rest rooms on I95N at Pittsfield. The ugly ones are concrete block with bare (porous) concrete floors.

[Ed Lecuyer]

One idea that has been floated (but I don't know where it stands) was to model the restroom after the bathhouse found at Sweatt Beach in my hometown of Wrentham, MA. Ever since I was a little kid I thought that it looked like it belonged at a railroad.

I would add board and batten (or clapboard) siding to dress up the exterior.

Pictures here:








(Please, no jokes about "Sweatt Beach" - they've already been made - Sweatt was the family name of the individual who donated the funds for the beach and other parks throughout Wrentham.)

[Wayne Laepple]

Only vaguely connected to this subject, but years ago there was a rail book publisher named Ira Swett. Some referred to his company as "Perspiration Publications."

[Wayne Laepple]

How about something like this?

[Richard "Steam" Symmes]

One of the best rest rooms I've seen at an attraction is the "River Bank" at Clark's Trading Post. It fits their "Main Street" like a glove, and the tongue-in-cheek humor of the signage in the windows is very good.  Inside is always spotless, like the rest of their facility. That's very important no matter what design you pick... it has to be super clean at all times.

Richard Symmes

[Fred L. Kuhns]

   John, Ed, and Wayne,     I think the information that you picture or talk about is very interesting.  What people see is the restrooms , appearance and quality will stand to help the musem in the future.   Zack will have a full plate of ideas and suggestions before he begins construction, I know that the end product will be something greatly appreciated.
  Thanks ,   Fred L. Kuhns

[Mike Fox]

Zack already has the plans being drawn up or already completed by an architecht. Will be interesting to see them when they come back. Zack being a plumber has put a lot of thought to make the plumbing part of the building, and designed the rest of the building around it. I believe that the building is based on Ed's photos that he supplied to Zack.

[James Patten]

Floor plans have already been drawn up by the architect.  The building will be 24' wide by 39' feet long, with a 6' porch at the front, an entryway, 4 stalls on each side, and an access/storage way/machine room in the middle.  It will be insulated so that we can keep it warm until the end of December, then drain it until spring.