If you were a resident in Michigan City in the early 1900s, you would have been amazed to hear about the extensive indoor plumbing in the Barker Mansion. Many residents at the time still utilized outhouses or shared one bathroom. This bathroom would have been shared by Catherine and her mother and was at the forefront of the modern advancements in bathroom technology. Notice the needle shower in the corner, complete with rain shower head. This type of shower would direct jets of water around the torso. At the time, it was believed that this offered a stimulating massage for internal organs (it was also known as a “liver shower”), and was considered to have energizing effects. The other pieces in the bathroom include a toilet, bidet, bathtub, and sitz bath — used for soaking one’s lower half.