When the house was built, this was the only room connected to the water supply. The pump brought in hard water from the ground. Soft water was hand pumped through the faucets from the outside cistern in which rainwater was collected. Washing chores of all sorts were done in this room.
Washroom (click to enlarge)
Washroom closeup
The icebox was located here to take advantage of a room that was cooler than the cook stove area. The Cappon's had an icehouse on the property where ice harvested from Lake Macatawa in the winter was stored for use in the warmer months.
Ice box
The counter was constructed to exactly match the original corner piece found in the Cappon collection. Through the east door (not pictured) eggs from the chicken coop and vegetables and fruit from the garden could be brought in and laundry carried out for hanging on the clothes line.
