“Interestingly, ornate lounges for women preceded public restrooms by several decades,” Kogan explained, noting that there were parlors for women in public buildings many years prior to when most of America had indoor plumbing. In other words, gender separation and protecting women’s virtue was initially the justification for these spaces, and the toilet came later.
The Tremont House was also the first major building in America to have indoor plumbing, with a bank of eight water closets on the main-floor hallway, each designed for a single user. Rogers felt no need to designate them by gender, because like the outhouses they were based on, they were single-user only.
In the 20th century, with more women entering the workforce during World Wars I and II, the rationale behind the lounges and the function shifted somewhat. Women were now in public more, but they still might want somewhere to relax, take a smoking break, or put on makeup—which was now mainstream after being stigmatized. It was not acceptable, however, for women to apply makeup in public.
Private train carriage of Yuli Khariton, who was the main constructor of the Soviet atomic bomb project. Because he was indispendable to the country, he was not allowed to travel by plane or public train. He always travelled in this special carriage, along with the caretaker lady Klavdiya (who cooked, cleaned and served) and armed guards.
This is the real carriage he used since 1961.
The carriage consists of firewood-heated kitchen, Klavdiya’s compartment, guest room, guards room, Khariton’s room with a private bathroom, and conference room. Khariton’s room was both his bedroom and study. The bathroom has a whole bath tub in it! In the room is the 1902 carpet that Khariton refused to change for a newer one. :) There are also radio phones, you could phone from the guest room to Khariton’s room, for example.
Yuli Khariton travelled a lot. The carriage would be hitched up to any train going in the needed direction, passenger or cargo. None of the train’s passengers knew that there was an additional car travelling with them.
This is a great piece of history that I truly enjoyed. Secret lives of trains and scientists! :) — Sovietpostcards
Staff Attorney Sasha Buchert delves into three types of anti-trans legislation to look out for: 1. “Bathroom Bills” 2. Pre-emption Bills 3. First Amendment Defense Acts (FADAs)
