Link to Author and Book
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Materials
and Cost for Building the Cabin
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Click
on image for larger view
Original nails and brick from Thoreau's cabin
Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods |
Click
on image for larger view
Original brick and beam from Thoreau's cabin
Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods |
"I
have thus a tight shingled and plastered house, ten feet wide by fifteen
long, and eight-feet posts, with a garret and a closet, a large window
on each side, two trap doors, one door at the end, and a brick fireplace
opposite. The exact cost of my house, paying the usual price for such
materials as I used, but not counting the work, all of which was done
by myself, was as follows; and I give the details because very few are
able to tell exactly what their houses cost, and fewer still, if any,
the separate cost of the various materials which compose them:-- "
Boards...........................
$8.03 1/2 mostly shantly boards.
Refuse shingles for roof
and sides, ..................... 4.00
Laths, ........................... 1.25
Two second-hand windows
with glass, .................... 2.43
One thousand old brick, .......... 4.00
Two casks of lime, ............... 2.40 That
was high.
Hair, ............................
0.31 More than I needed.
Mantle-tree iron, ................ 0.15
Nails, ........................... 3.90
Hinges and screws, ............... 0.14
Latch, ........................... 0.10
Chalk, ........................... 0.01
Transportation, .................. 1.40 I carried
a good part on my back.
In all, ...................
$28.12 1/2 |
"These
are all the materials, excepting the timber, stones, and sand, which
I claimed by squatter's right. I have also a small woodshed adjoining,
made chiefly of the stuff which was left after building the house."
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Activity |
Henry’s
Cabin Construction Costs
Henry itemized all of his expenses for constructing
his cabin and kept a record in his journal. The total amount he spent
is calculated on a spreadsheet. Compare the cost of constructing a replica
of his cabin at today’s prices. Calculate the percentage of increase
from 1845 to today. You will first have to research the price of materials
using the Web or visiting a hardware store or lumberyard. Remember,
Henry was frugal.
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