I have often felt that we just don't take the time/money to build nice things anymore, but after gutting my house built in the 1890s, its clear that shotty cons

I have often felt that we just don't take the time/money to build nice things anymore, but after gutting my house built in the 1890s, its clear that shotty construction and "cheap" existed back then as it does now. The stuff that doesn't last gets torn down, while the quality/ornate "lasts." My house was built fast, by people that were most likely employed in some relation to the port (working class). The house is standard balloon framing, I don't think whoever built it owned a plumb bob and nails are bent over on themselves every other board. It has a facade that is hard not to ignore, it's simple, and they built it one "section" at a time over several years when they had the money or were forced to out of necessity to make room for more family. And yet, not 10 minutes away are beautiful homes with ornate masonry and corner stones that read 1890, 1895, etc. To that end, you could say that my house is still standing because of the building materials they used (actual 2x4s from old growth forests, nails that are really more "spike" than nail, a lack of insulation allowing walls to breathe), but I think it was spared and maintained for its utility: it brought shelter to all those that lived there before and so it was maintained just enough.