The cooper was a very important part of the village economy. Besides making buckets and tubs for domestic use, he also made barrels. Almost all produce was shipped in barrels at that time-wet barrels for transporting whiskey or meat products in brine and dry barrels for flour. Onstot charged from 400 for a flour barrel to $1 for a pork barrel. Wash tubs and well buckets were $1.50 each. In 1922 this building was located in Petersburg and returned to the site. This shop is the only original building left from New Salem.