Brief history of a legendary ladies restroom

There's been discussion recently over on the "You Grew Up in Chariton ...." Facebook site about the women's rest room, complete with attendant, once located on the basement level of the Lucas County Courthouse. 

Considerably more than an assemblage of toilets and wash basins, this was a sitting room where women who had come to town to shop, often with small children in tow, could find refuge and a place to rest at a time when public toilets were rare and transportation was neither quick nor easy.

No one can quite remember when the county supervisors decided that the establishment had outlived its usefulness --- probably during the 1950s --- but I'm here to tell you that it premiered on the 4th of July, 1905, 117 years ago.

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The restroom was a project of the Chariton Improvement Association, a group of strong women led during its formative years by Jessie Mallory Thayer, who organized to undertake a number of projects menfolk thought beneath them --- organizing parks, ensuring that dump sites were cleared, lobbying for improved sidewalks and other public utilities, and the like.

A courthouse restroom for women had been on the organization's agenda for some years, but work moved quickly once Mrs. Thayer and her associates emerged victorious from a wrestling match with county supervisors for space in the new 1894 courthouse during the early summer of 1905.

The Chariton Leader of June 22, 1905, reported that, "A meeting of the Chariton Improvement Association was held at the home of Mrs. G.A. Lockwood last Thursday evening and was largely attended. The question of fitting up a rest room for the use of women and children was taken up and discussed and committees were appointed to take charge of the work. The northeast room in the basement of the court house has been put at the disposal of the association by the board of supervisors and this is the room which will be fitted up as a rest room."

Elsewhere in that edition of The Leader, a more detailed account of the project and a plea for assistance was published: "The members of the Chariton Improvement Association have undertaken to arrange a rest room in the northeast corner of the basement of the court house where tired women and children can rest, and find pleasure and comfort. This will be ready for use by July 4th.

"The association is without funds and the good people of this vicinity are asked to assist in furnishing this much needed rest room. The members need the following articles: Cots and couches, rocking chairs and chairs, two single mattresses, two comforters, one portiere, one water cooler, pictures, rugs, etc. Persons who can contribute any of the above articles will please report at once to Mrs. J.E. Brown or Miss Emily McCormick, in order that the work may be pushed forward.

"This room will be for the use of ladies and children only. It will prove a blessing to those who come to town and become ill or tired. The little ones can be put to sleep there and while they are taking a nap the mothers can rest. By all means let us have this room fitted up in a convenient, comfortable manner that will be a credit to the city. We hope to be able to report next week that all of the needed articles have been secured."

Association members met their goals and so the Leader was able to report on July 13 that "Miss Margaret McCormick reported for the special committee on the rest room in the Court House. The room ... has been nicely furnished and is to be used exclusively by women from the country and out of town visitors. The room was formally opened on the Fourth of July and was crowded all day, which demonstrates the wisdom of the association providing such a convenience. The room is pleasantly located and is kept neat and clean, and is open every day except Sunday to all ladies and children."

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The restroom was unattended during its first five years, but during 1910, the association decided someone needed to be present when it was open and for more than a year undertook to provide this supervision themselves, taking turns.

During June of 1911, the Association convinced the board of supervisors to employ a matron "whose hours on duty shall be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and so long as the court house remains open, when so requested." Her wage was to be $3 per week. The first matron was Rosetta McEndree (1854-1935), widow of Frank (1846-1906).