Interesting saunas being associated with wealth, we come from different places. When I was in college at Michigan Tech in the early 80’s, dorms had saunas, the frat house had a sauna, and if you were lucky, someone was renting a place with a sauna. Of course I understand that this was very much a regional thing, the point is they are simple to construct and simple to maintain.

While there, I became friends with an old Finnish couple about 10 miles east of town near the Lake Superior shores. They explained that until just a few years ago (at that time), people had outhouses, and a sauna for relaxing, bathing and socializing. They did not eat cake. (They ate pasties :-) )