Boardinghouses in 1890

Mill employees paid $12 each month to live at the Pepperell boardinghouses in Biddeford, which included three daily meals. 

Breakfast, served from 5:30 to 6:30 a.m., included porridge and milk, two kinds of hot meat, baked potatoes, hot rolls with butter and tea or coffee.

Dinner, served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., included soup, three kinds of hot meat, potatoes, tomatoes, corn on the cob or other vegetable, pastry and tea or coffee.

Supper, served in the evening, included tea or coffee, bread and butter, cold meats, jam and jellies, ice sweet cakes and sometimes chowder.

Living expenses in 1841

Factory girls made about $1.85 per week

Boardinghouse rent was $1.25 per week

Shoes cost $2 and boots were $3

Candles were sold for 23 cents per pound and whale oil for lamps was 88 cents per gallon