In the quaint city of St. John's, Newfoundland, a peculiar tradition has left its mark on the urban landscape. The number 19, once a slang term for an outhouse, has shaped the very fabric of the city's streets. This intriguing story, rooted in local folklore, reveals a fascinating insight into the power of language and its impact on our surroundings.
The Stench of Number 19
Imagine a time when an outdoor toilet was a common feature of daily life. In many parts of Newfoundland, the number 19 became synonymous with this unsavoury necessity. So much so, that residents of St. John's actively avoided living in houses numbered 19. Older streets in the city still bear the evidence of this aversion, skipping straight from 17 to 21.
One family story, passed down through generations, tells of a grandfather's dismay upon learning that his new home's address would be number 19. "I can't have my house to be number 19! That's a shithouse number," he exclaimed. The city, understanding the stigma, relented and changed the house number to 21. This anecdote is not an isolated incident; it reflects a broader cultural phenomenon.
A City's Resistance
The phenomenon extended beyond Pennywell Road. City archives reveal that in the 1920s, numerous streets lacked a number 19. Some residents even went to great lengths to avoid the association. One neighbour, assigned the address 19, painted over the number and refused to update his contacts, leading to light-hearted mail mix-ups with his neighbours at number 17.
This resistance to the number 19 had far-reaching implications. Young Newfoundlanders today eagerly anticipate turning 19, but a century ago, a 19th birthday was no cause for celebration. Nineteen-year-olds would lie about their age to avoid bullying. The number carried such a stigma that it affected social norms and even mail delivery.
The Origins of a Slang Term
The origins of slang are often elusive, evolving within the spoken language and rarely documented. However, Professor Emeritus Philip Hiscock of Memorial University believes the term "number 19" originated in the game of golf. Long before golf courses became sophisticated, they had outhouses, which were referred to as Number Nineteen.
Hiscock mapped the streets missing the house number 19 and traced the earliest examples to the neighbourhood around Golf Avenue, where the Newfoundland Golf Club opened in 1896. The club's exclusive membership and the presence of caddies created a unique cultural environment where this slang term could thrive.
"A generation of children grew up in the area of the old golf course... and took with them the bit of folklore that 19 [equals] shithouse," Hiscock explains. This clever joke, referencing the pit under an outdoor privy as the 19th hole, spread beyond the golfing community and became a common phrase in St. John's.
A Legacy Rewrites the Map
As indoor plumbing became more widespread, the expression "number 19" fell out of use. Yet, its impact on the city's streets remains. This piece of slang, born from a playful joke, literally rewrote the map of St. John's. It serves as a reminder of the power of language and how cultural norms can shape our physical environment.
From the streets of St. John's to the golf course, the story of number 19 is a fascinating glimpse into the hidden histories that shape our world. It's a reminder that sometimes, the most intriguing stories are those that lie just beneath the surface.
