“‘Building Materials”
August 25 and August 29 Segment
Photo of men sitting on building materials, 1893 Memorial Day (Photo courtesy of Nantucket Historical Association)
Did you know that all the building materials used to construct the early buildings on island came from the mainland? Like today, brick, stone shingles, and timbers needed to be transported by boat and unloaded at the harbor. Building materials were valued so reusing them became the norm. Sections of old houses from the original Sherburne settlement were moved to town and repurposed, and salvaged items that washed ashore often from nearby shipwrecks were gathered and used in many ‘Sconset and island homes. Even today some houses retain a patchwork of wooden elements behind their walls—often a surprise to the contractor and homeowner.
