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From Glimpses of 17th and 18th Century colonial American life

There were men who earned a living at carpentry.  If they lived in a port town, they might have been doing it part time as early as the 1640s.  All of them learned the same way, as apprentices.  (Many was the colonial boy who grew up with a small wooden tool kit made by a father who guided his son’s career.)  About age fourteen, boys took up learning the craft from their father, an uncle, or someone with a carpenter shop who was agreeable.  They stayed with their master until about age eighteen, at which time they could call themselves journeymen and look for work.

From the front this is a two story house.  At the back, though, note the sloping roof.  It is as though the back of the house had been attached and the roof extended down to cover it.  (It is supposed to look like a [17th Century salt box]).

It is alleged this was the first house design used by settlers in New England.  (It is a European form from the middle ages.)  They are not simple constructions that a group of untrained men could throw together in a few days.  Carpenters were needed.

UBC - United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

The UBC is North America’s largest building-trades union, with more than a half-million members in the construction and wood-products industries. It was founded in 1881 by Peter J. McGuire. His tireless work in the early years of the union led to the eight-hour workday, the founding of the American Federation of Labor, and wages that more than doubled. P. J. McGuire built union membership to more than 167,000 by 1903. He also crafted a lasting and historical memorial to all workers — the Labor Day holiday.

Here is what the UBC emblem means to the organization, according to their website :
In 1884, delegates to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ Fourth General Convention adopted this emblem to serve as a symbol of the union’s ideals. After a century and a quarter, some of the items are no longer common on jobsites, but the values they represent remain a vital part of the Brotherhood.

• The motto, “Labor Omnia Vincit,” means “Labor Conquers All Things.”
• The ruler signifies the Golden Rule.
• The compass reminds members to stay on track in their lives and work.
• The jack plane is a simple symbol of the trade.
• The colors were carefully chosen: pale blue for the purity of labor; dark red for the dignified labor that flows like blood through those who toil.
• The shield embodies the concept that all members are morally bound to protect the interests of the organization and its members.

Also

• Charpentier de barriques: aka tonnelier
• Charpentier de grosses œuvres ou Charpentier de haute futaie: Compagnon capable d'édifier des charpentes de grands bâtiments tels que églises, châteaux, ponts couverts ....
• Charpentier de navires: Charpentier et fabricant de navires, barques, bateaux, etc...
• Charpentier de nés: Charpentier de nefs (aka Charpentier de navires)

Default Profile Picture of a Carpenter

Click on this picture/icon to open the profile picture for a person associated with this project. When the picture opens, tag it by adding the profile to "On this picture". (Reference)