Two simple and ancient tools were used to make the shingles that roofed virtually all early American cabins. These were the froe and the maul or mallet.

The froe is a wedge made of iron, with a wooden handle. The name is derived from the archaic word "froward," meaning the opposite of "toward." To split shingles, the froe was struck with a short wooden maul or mallet, and twisted to split off a slice with the grain. Although the tool is simple, it required considerable skill and careful technique. .

"Riving" shingles was a favorite rainy-day woodshed job, until saw-cut shingles became customary. The froe has been obsolete for more than a century.

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This page last updated: August 5, 2002 Original content: Copyright © 2000, 2001 Museum of American Heritage