The Blacksmith Shop

Blacksmithing began over six thousand years ago as the craft of forging and shaping iron with a hammer and anvil. The blacksmith's work advanced transportation and industry by providing the tools, weapons, and hardware needed by society. In the 19th century, the blacksmith's most important function was supplying farm, transportation, and household tools for the local community. He made hammers, axes, adzes, knives, scythes, and sickles for farmers, plane bits and carving tools for carpenters, welded and fit wagon wheels and hub rings, shod horses, and made the metal parts of wagons and carriages. He also provided andirons, fireplace cooking utensils, ice skates, and rolling hoops. The blacksmith was regarded as the king of craftsmen, and throughout the early 20th century blacksmithing remained a highly specialized skill. Although new materials and factory production of metal parts reduced the need for blacksmiths, the craft continued through blacksmithing guilds. This blacksmith shop is based on an existing historic shop on the Robert Trueman farm in Acquasco, Maryland, built around 1890 by John Trueman, the great-uncle of Mr. Truman, and used until 1944 by Wilton W. Trueman.

Croom, Maryland · United States