The blacksmith's shop was a very important part of every town in the 1850s. Hinges, nails, guns, horseshoes, axes, saws and many other necessities could only be made by a blacksmith.

Before he could work with the iron, the blacksmith first heated it to a glowing orange in his forge. The forge was a waist-high fireplace that resembled our modern barbecue pit. Coal was burned in the forge and air was forced over it with a "bellows." A bellows was a large accordion-like contraption made of leather and was pumped by pulling a rope attached to it. Fanning the flames in this manner created a super-hot fire. When a piece of iron was glowing hot the blacksmith placed it on his anvil and beat it with his hammer to shape it. When finished, he dipped it into water to quickly cool it and harden it. This is called "tempering."

On occasion a blacksmith at Westville works just as blacksmiths did in 1850. He'll make objects for you and explain the importance of all his tools of the trade.

Blacksmiths bond at Westville 1973

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Mules and Wagon passing in front of Adams Store.