The wooden structure located northeast of the Carver house is an ash hopper. Ashes were taken from the wood burning stoves and fireplaces and placed onto the hopper, then rain water or well water was poured over them. These produced a lye solution that was collected in a wooden bucket. The lye solution was then boiled with rendered animal fat and poured into molds to produce lye soap.

Pioneers were self-sufficient and self-reliant. They tried to be as resourceful as possible and to make do with what was available without having to spend what little money they had.