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- Feb 18, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 24, 2021
Baths: First water-50¢
Used water- 25¢
Soap & Towel 20¢
Today, we take our modern amenities—especially clean water and hot water, running water inside the house, and showers and bathtubs—for granted. But keeping a body clean in the 1800s, especially on the frontier, was an arduous and time-consuming job. Most folks on the frontier bathed in rivers or ponds when they were available or took sponge baths from a metal or porcelain basin. But there were plenty of people who seldom did that!
Early homesteaders had to carry water from a stream, river or pond. Wells and iron hand pumps were not built on the frontier until relatively late—the 1870s–and even then, water had to be carried from the well. Many homesteaders and ranchers bathed in the horse trough. That was their bathtub. The fact that their farm animals drank from the trough was of no concern.
Later wooden bathing tubs could be purchased for the home. Saturday evening was often bath day and the entire family took a bath in the same water so they would be clean for the Sabbath and church or worship. Pa was first, then Ma, then the children. The wooden tubs were filled with water, usually cold. Hot water was a luxury. Heating water in the fireplace or over the iron stove was another very arduous and time-consuming task. Usually, by the time Pa was done with his bath, the water was tepid at best for the rest of the family.
The first modern public bath was opened in Liverpool, England, in 1829 and soon spread across Europe and to America. Even in the American West, bathhouses started sprouting up—from the most crude (See photograph of 1892 Arkansas bath house) to more luxurious facilities in cities. A basic cold bath in used water was the cheapest. People had to pay a premium for hot water and clean water! Soap and a towel were extra too.
During the Civil War, science had progressed to the point that good hygiene was recognized as helping to prevent disease. In 1861, the U.S. Sanitary Commission was created as a relief agency to help wounded soldiers, and it pioneered a new era of sanitation after discovering that by simply washing patients, their clothes, and the walls of their rooms, disease could be decreased dramatically.
As a result, hygiene practices began to change among the civilian populace as well. Along with hygiene trends, new hygiene products—soaps, shampoos, perfumes, laundry detergents, and mouth and teeth cleansers—began pouring into the marketplace.
Katherine Ashenburg, author ofThe Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History, wrote: “Before the war, Americans had been just as dirty as Europeans, and they came out of the war thinking cleanliness is democratic… It’s progressive. It’s forward-looking. It has wonderful results. They quickly thought this is yet another way in which life in the New World is so much better than life in the Old World.”
When modern advertising, which originated in America in the early to mid-1800s began to take hold, the advertising of hygiene products was immediately associated with purity and goodness. The adage, “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” appealed to an American culture with such stolid Puritan and religious roots. And, thus, Americans began their obsession with cleanliness and daily washing.
You may enjoy this related post:
• “Outhouses: Gems of American Architecture.”
Read about The Great Cincinnati Outhouse Disaster of 1904!
https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/outhouses
"Bathing in the Old West" first published on Facebook February 18, 2020.
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© 2021 NOTES FROM THE FRONTIER
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Deborah Hufford
Author, Notes from the Frontier
Deborah Hufford is an award-winning author and magazine editor with a passion for history. Her popular NotesfromtheFrontier.com blog with 100,000+ readers has led to an upcoming novel! Growing up as an Iowa farmgirl, rodeo queen and voracious reader, her love of land, lore and literature fired her writing muse. With a Bachelor's in English and Master's in Journalism from the University of Iowa, she taught students of Iowa's Writer's Workshop, then at Northwestern University, Marquette and Mount Mary. Her extensive publishing career began at Better Homes & Gardens, includes credits in New York Times Magazine, New York Times, Connoisseur, many other titles, and serving as publisher of The Writer's Handbook.
Deeply devoted to social justice, especially for veterans, women, and Native Americans, she has served on boards and donated her fundraising skills to Chief Joseph Foundation, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), Homeless Veterans Initiative, Humane Society, and other nonprofits.
Deborah's soon-to-be released historical novel, BLOOD TO RUBIES weaves indigenous and pioneer history, strong women and clashing worlds into a sweeping saga praised by NYT bestselling authors as "crushing," "rhapsodic," "gritty," and "sensuous." Purchase BLOOD TO RUBIES online beginning June 9. Connect with Deborah on DeborahHufford.com, Facebook, and Instagram.
It's fantastic to delve into the history of hygiene, especially in the context of the American frontier. I've explored this subject extensively, drawing upon historical records, academic resources, and primary accounts to understand the nuances of daily life during that time.
Let's break down the concepts woven into "Bathing in the Old West":
1. Homesteading Life & Pioneers:
- The article portrays the challenges faced by early homesteaders in obtaining clean water and the rudimentary methods they used for bathing, such as using horse troughs.
2. Native Americans & Native Life:
- Understanding the contrast between hygiene practices of settlers and indigenous people during that period offers insights into cultural differences and daily routines.
3. Nature & Animals:
- The connection between nature, available water sources (rivers, ponds), and the usage of natural elements in bathing (sponge baths, wooden tubs) is highlighted.
4. American History & Wild West History:
- The piece delves into the historical context of hygiene practices in the American West, showcasing the evolution of bathing habits and the advent of public bathhouses.
5. Medical History & Hygiene Innovations:
- It touches upon the advancements in medical understanding during the Civil War era, emphasizing the importance of hygiene in preventing diseases.
6. Women & Daily Life:
- The article sheds light on the role of women in maintaining cleanliness within the family, with Saturday often being designated as bath day for the entire household.
7. Crime, Death on the Frontier & Famous People:
- While not the primary focus, the article indirectly hints at the possible consequences of poor hygiene in terms of health issues prevalent during that era.
8. Hollywood Depictions & Popular Culture:
- It indirectly touches upon the evolution of cultural perceptions of cleanliness and hygiene, influenced by historical events and societal changes.
9. African-Americans, Minority Stories & Civil War:
- The shift in hygiene practices post-Civil War and its impact on various societal groups is alluded to, showcasing changes in perception and behavior.
10. Hygiene Products & Advertisem*nt:
- The emergence of hygiene products and their marketing strategies post-war era is highlighted, reflecting the shift in societal values towards cleanliness.
Each aspect, from the hardships faced by pioneers to the societal shifts post-Civil War, contributes to a comprehensive understanding of hygiene practices and their evolution during the American frontier era.
