Saw these at my in-law's place on Squam Lake NH last weekend. Six old concrete-filled wooden nail kegs holding up their 12x18 guest cabin. I love this kinda stuff. Old-school Yankee at its best:
(https://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k182/davestreck/738f22e3.jpg)
I love it. Now, this was repurposing before repurposing was a word. Kudos!