DuPage FPD

KEEPSAKE: Renting planes at DuPage Airport for aerial photography, walks through West Chicago Prairie with naturalist Wayne Lampa, and wildlife releases

1988 – 1994
As Public Information Manager, responsibilities included managing a staff of three (writer, photographer, graphic artist) in developing facility brochures, updating the photo catalog of plants and animals, writing news releases to promote educational programs and facilities, making staff assignments, editing the quarterly magazine and employee newsletter, special events coordination, providing computer training to general staff through Human Resources, and introducing desktop publishing to the department.

• Editor, quarterly community publication and employee newsletter
• Writing, editing and photography for facility brochures
• Special events coordination including yearly booth setup for DuPage County Fair
• Writing and distribution of news releases to promote programs and facilities
• Presentations to the county board on department updates
• Responsible for printing contracts, bidding process through the county board
• Managed quarter million dollar department budget, with board approval
• Managed black and white darkroom, 35mm camera equipment
• Updated computer systems, software and provide training

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N E W S   R E L E A S E

OUTHOUSE AT KLINE CREEK FARM

The newest structure at Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago is an outhouse, showing visitors how a call from nature was answered at the turn of the century.

The outhouse, also called a privy, is 7 feet by 4 feet and matches the farmhouse in color and basic structure. The privy traditionally was built close to the house inside the door yard to keep farm animals from knocking it over. Kline Creek Farm’s privy is a one-holer, however, some were built with two or three holes of differing sizes to accommodate users of all dimensions.

Outhouses of the period included several design features which are seen in the Farm’s version: the door opens inward to prevent accidental or intentional peeking and latches are on the inside so the user needn’t worry about being locked in.

The structure is located over a deep hole, usually about 6 to 8 feet deep, and is moved to different locations after prolonged use at one site.

While an outhouse is often associated with having a copy of a mail order catalog presumably used for personal hygiene or as reading material, Historic Sites Manager Stafford Crossland says it’s not certain this was the paper of choice. He notes that toilet paper was available in the catalog at fairly reasonable prices. The 1895 Montgomery Ward Catalog lists several toilet paper choices from a plain, unperforated roll for 4 cents each to “first quality pure tissue” for 12 cents each.

The Farm’s outhouse is not for actual use, but it will give visitors a chance to imagine what it was like dashing from the house in a driving rain to relieve themselves in the middle of the night.

Kline Creek Farm is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located on County Farm Road, one-half mile north of Geneva Road in West Chicago. For additional information, contact the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County at 708-790-4900, ext. 304 weekdays.