Cost Of Living
By: Maddy F., Danielle G., Katie J., and Logan S.
How was the cost of living different from today?
What farm tools cost the most?
Did locally grown food cost more or did imported food cost more?
Lantern and candle maker
Field Trip to Ludlow Meetinghouse
If you could compare the cost of living from the 1800s to now, it would be indescribable. Although no farm could produce everything needed, farms continued to be largely self sustaining. Merchants and traders were attracted to growing demand items not available from the home farm. Imported goods cost more than the goods that were locally produced. A bushel of locally grown potatoes cost 80 cents. Codfish sold for 8 cents a pound off the seacoast which was twice as much as beef and veal. Sugar cost 25 cents a pound. Cost of food seemed high for the period. Clothing prices were very high in cost. A scythe sold for $1.50, a new lantern cost 50 cents, and a hoe was priced at a dollar. 20 cents was the cost of a mug of “flip” with sugar, egg, and nutmeg added to the rum. Small “junks” of tobacco were 5 cents each. The cost of living was very high for the period.