The Carpenters' Shop, 1806

The Carpenters' Shop is one of the oldest buildings in the village. It measures 32x24 feet and has one story with an attic. It was built in 1806 as a dwelling house for visiting Shakers, and was originally located in the southeast corner of the community. It was used as a spin shop from 1815 until 1832, when it was moved to its present location. A cellar was added in 1850.

According to Elder Henry Blinn, this shop was used for many years as “a storage for herbs and also as a place to press and pack them for market. [In 1877] the whole building was rebuilt on the inside and fitted for a broom shop and is used for that business." The broom-making business lasted until 1890. Hired men lived here between 1901 and 1903, and after 1903 the Shakers used the east room as a carpenters' shop and the rest of the building for storage. They renovated the building in 1951 and briefly used it as a residence.

Today, broom making is demonstrated on the main floor and the basement functions as a historic print shop.

Source: David R. Starbuck, Neither Plain Nor Simple: New Perspectives on the Canterbury Shakers