Back When...before the EPA was created

Here's 2 people looking like they were 'caught in the act' maybe.
The Act of What?

55 gallon drums (seen here) came from a variety of sources,

and were re-purposed in many ways.

This is one of those ways.

What do you think is happening?

If you don't recognize the scenery this is the backyard of Grandma and Pappy's house probably about 1957 after construction and before grass seed was planted.  BTW, the backyard grass seeding was done in sections over a couple of years.