Blacksmith Girl Power

In the 19^th Century, people would expect to see women cooking, cleaning, and raising their children, and would be puzzled by a female swinging a hammer or working at the forge. During the 19^th century, some trades, like blacksmithing, were seen as only “men’s work.” Although today many talented blacksmiths are female, almost all blacksmiths in the 19th century were male. However, there is recorded evidence of at least a couple of females in the trade.  The first two short biographies are about female blacksmiths in the 19th century and the third biography is about a female blacksmith today.

Unknown woman blacksmith
in the 19th century

1880: Female blacksmith Rachel Yent, of Baltimore, Maryland, learnt the blacksmith trade from her father as a young girl. She refused to marry in order to support her family with the trade when her father was no longer able to work in the shop. 

1882: During a town meeting in Sudbury, Ontario, the question up for debate was whether or not “women who are citizens should have the right to vote on town affairs on the same basis as male citizens.” Sudbury’s first woman blacksmith, Mrs. Hattie Graham, proposed to do business in a shop owned by another woman Miss Mary Heard on Concord Road in Sudbury, which was soon to be a problem. On opening day in 1895, many cheering women showed up, and stunned and curious men, to observe Graham’s skills. Angry protests made by people, especially men, about Hattie Graham’s registration were soon withdrawn after they witnessed her skills. Years following, her work was seen as outstanding work-“women” – ship from both men and women.

Product made by Armstrong
and Carter Iron Works 

Megan Carter 

2016: Female Blacksmiths today are just as talented as men, which was seen at this year’s Blacksmith Festival at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. Megan Carter displayed her outstanding skills. Megan was born in Kingsville, Ontario in 1991. In 2010, she began her metalworking studies at Haliburton School of The Arts followed by a year of Arts Studies at the same college. After her studies, both her and her partner Mike Armstrong combined their skills to become what is known as Armstrong and Carter Ironworks. Although she works mostly in mild steel and copper, she has moved towards making furniture and functional pieces containing reclaimed objects. She is now located in Georgetown, Ontario, where she and Mike Armstrong opened their own shop in 2012.  Megan notes that a large part of the life of a blacksmith is "doing drawings, design, quotes, and conversing with clients," which all needs to be done before she can even get into the shop to create a custom piece.  

Blacksmith Implements at the Highland Games

 The Heavy Weight Events have been contested at the Highland Games for centuries and are continuing to be a crowed favourite. Implements that were used were those found around the blacksmith’s shop that became tools for building strength for battle. The first tool is the blacksmith’s hammer which would have been used for driving fence posts but became the hammer thrown in the hammer event. The competitor forcefully rotates the hammer to gain momentum, and releases it into the air. The throw is then measured for distance to where the hammer hits the ground. The next implement that would have been found in the blacksmith’s shop is the blacksmith’s weights. The weight events at the Glengarry Highland Games include the Weight for Distance and the Weight for Height. The Weight for Distance event includes two events which includes throwing a heavier weight in the first competition and a lighter weight thrown in the second. Amateurs will throw a 56 lb weight then a 28 lb weight; however, a master will throw as 42 lb weight then a 28 lb weight. In this type of event, the competitor will spin to gain momentum on the weight, and throws it as far as they possibly can while maintaining control of the trig. Similarly to the hammer event, the measurement is to where the weight hits the ground. The other type of weight event is known as the Weight for Height. In this event, the competitor uses only one hand to attempt to throw the weight up and over a horizontal bar. Amateurs throw a 56 lb weight whereas masters will throw a 42 lb weight. As long as the weight goes over the bar, the throw is good. You must succeed at one of three attempts to move onto the next height, however if the competitor fails in all three attempts at a height the competitor is eliminated. The winner of the event is the highest tosser unless there is a tie in which the competitor with the fewest misses is the victor.

How to Shoe a Horse

Farriers were in charge of making iron shoes for animals such as horses and oxen. These animals regularly walked on hard surfaces which wore down their hoofs. Therefore, the farrier would shoe these animals by nailing the iron shoes onto the hoofs to protect and cover them from harsh surfaces, just as the shoes you wear protect your feet. Like the way humans switch the type of shoe they wear in the winter, animals do as well. The farrier would shoe animals with shoes that had studs on the bottom of them which gave the animals a better grip while pulling sleighs in the winter. It would have taken a lot of time and patience for farriers to shoe a horse. The steps to shoeing a horse include the following;

      

      Relax the animal: horses often became nervous, therefore the farrier’s first job would have been to relax the horse before he/she could lift its leg and cradle its hoof in his/her lap.

 Pulling off the shoe: in order to pull off the old shoe to replace it with a new one, the farrier loosened and removed the nails and pulled it off with a set of tongs. Once it was removed he/she could start to clean the excess mud and stones out of it.

Cut away the dead ends: like clipping a humans fingernail, the farrier would clip away the dead ends of the horses hoofs.

Cut, heat and bend! The Farrier would then cut an iron rod into 4 different pieces and heat each piece in the forge in order to hammer it on the anvil to be able to bend it into a wide curve.

 Cat’s ear: The farrier forged what was known as a cat’s ear at the front of each shoe to keep it from slipping. The farrier would then heat two heels of the she and turned them downwards.

 Holding it in place: In order to hold the nails in place, the farrier would punch 8 different holes in each horseshoe.

 Molding: While the shoes were still hot, the farrier would place the shoe on the horse’s hoofs which would mold to fit the hoofs perfectly. Once the shoes were molded to the hoofs, the blacksmith would hang them to cool them down.

Hammering: special short nails were used to hammer shoe shoes onto the horse’s hoofs.

Final product: when the horse was shod, you could see where the nails were put in on the upper   roof of the horse’s hoof. 

The History of the Glengarry Highland Games

              

                                            The History of the Glengarry Highland Games

              The tiny village of Maxville is internationally known for holding one of the largest Highland Games festivals in the world, as well as being home to the North American Pipe Band Championships. On the August long weekend of each year, some 50,000 people flock to this town to experience a massive celebration of Scottish culture

.

                But…do they know about the humble beginnings of the Glengarry Highland Games?

                In 1948, a group of local Maxville businessman wanted to ensure that the bright and unique traditions of their beloved Celtic heritage would not be forgotten. They had reason to worry: in 1877, the New Caledonian Highland Games situated in Williamstown, Ontario had been cancelled and never resumed due to a tragic hammer toss accident which resulted in the death of a four year old girl. Since that incident, the township banned Highland sports and less and less people from both counties of North and South Glengarry took part in traditional Scottish sport and music. These Maxville businessmen wanted to know that the future generations would have the same attachment to their Scottish heritage as they did and decided to revive the culture with the creation of Maxville’s very own Highland Games.

 On the August long weekend of 1948, the town of Maxville hosted the first ever Glengarry Highland Games. In attendance were seven pipe bands and nearly 10,000 visitors, vastly exceeding anyone’s expectations. With such a positive initial response, the games quickly became a yearly fixture in the community. Throughout the years, the games have grown exponentially, now hosting the North American Pipe Band Championships, as well as displays of Highland dancing, traditional Highland sports, fiddling and a gathering of the clans. Each year, more events are added and the games grow larger and larger. However, it was due to the determination of the local businessmen that we have the Highland Games today. 

Happy Highland Games!

A 'Clan Map' currently displayed in the Star Inn at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. This map shows where each clan is from in Scotland. 

Maxville Mondays:  James Ferguson and the Ferguson Thresher Company

            The Ferguson Thresher is perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of late pioneer agricultural machinery. From 1881 to 1954, Ferguson threshers have been all over Canada from Newfoundland to Nunavut. James Ferguson of St. Elmo not only founded the Ferguson Thresher Company but reinvented how threshing machines were designed and built. Ferguson was the son of Donald Ferguson and Margaret Macgregor, who was born on the family’s farm on the Seventh Concession. After his education was finished, he farmed in the summer and operated a threshing mill during the winter. This is what led Ferguson to rethink how an early wood framed threshing machine worked and how it was built. He built his first threshing machine in 1874 while still living on the family’s farm and in 1881 moved to Maxville and set up a shop. In 1884 he submitted his changes to Henry Grist & Company, who then granted him his first patent. In 1910, with the evolution of the steam powered engine, Ferguson received another patent and began building a new variety of threshers. As the popularity of his threshing machine grew, a new factory was built in 1928. Ferguson was joined by his son Donald and died in 1933. Even after his death the technology of threshing machines continued to change; improvements were made, rubber tires were added to newer machines. The transition from wood machines to all steel frames began in 1944 and continued for the next ten years, until the combine became the popular method of harvesting crops and the manufacture of threshers was discontinued. James Ferguson is remembered as being an active member of the community, extremely intelligent and by many accounts a ‘walking encyclopedia’. For the entire town of Maxville, James Ferguson contributed in many different ways but most of all, with the creation of the Ferguson Thresher Company.

Photo Credit of the Canadian Agricultural and Food Museum, Ottawa, Canada. Obtained in 1981, currently in storage.

James Ferguson and the Ferguson Thresher Company

Maxville Mondays:  James Ferguson and the Ferguson Thresher Company

The Ferguson Thresher is perhaps one of the most iconic pieces of late pioneer agricultural machinery. From 1881 to 1954, Ferguson threshers have been all over Canada from Newfoundland to Nunavut. James Ferguson of St. Elmo not only founded the Ferguson Thresher Company but reinvented how threshing machines were designed and built. Ferguson was the son of Donald Ferguson and Margaret Macgregor, who was born on the family’s farm on the Seventh Concession. After his education was finished, he farmed in the summer and operated a threshing mill during the winter. This is what led Ferguson to rethink how an early wood framed threshing machine worked and how it was built. He built his first threshing machine in 1874 while still living on the family’s farm and in 1881 moved to Maxville and set up a shop. In 1884 he submitted his changes to Henry Grist & Company, who then granted him his first patent. In 1910, with the evolution of the steam powered engine, Ferguson received another patent and began building a new variety of threshers. As the popularity of his threshing machine grew, a new factory was built in 1928. Ferguson was joined by his son Donald and died in 1933. Even after his death the technology of threshing machines continued to change; improvements were made, rubber tires were added to newer machines. The transition from wood machines to all steel frames began in 1944 and continued for the next ten years, until the combine became the popular method of harvesting crops and the manufacture of threshers was discontinued. James Ferguson is remembered as being an active member of the community, extremely intelligent and by many accounts a ‘walking encyclopedia’. For the entire town of Maxville, James Ferguson contributed in many different ways but most of all, with the creation of the Ferguson Thresher Company. 

Ferguson's "the Marvel Grain Thrower" Thresher, manufactured 1941-1954. Photo Credit of the Canadian Agricultural and Food Museum, Ottawa, Canada. 

Blacksmith Tools

There are many handy tools the blacksmith uses to work metal into various shapes. 

A blacksmiths daily routine includes organizing the tools that he will need on his workbench to prevent wasting time while working. The blacksmith uses various types of hammers, tongs and vises. The blacksmith can own up to 12 different types of hammers. The reason for the various types is because it allows for the blacksmith to do different things. For example, the flatter is used to pound iron flat and because of its smooth face, it doesn’t dent the iron when it’s pounded. On the other hand, a ball peen hammer is used to shape curved objects such as pots, ladles and cups by using the peen of the ball peen hammer. Other types of hammers include a chisel used to cut iron and a set hammer to also cut or make a bend in a piece of iron.

 The blacksmith also uses several types of tongs used for a specific purpose, such as holding square, round or flat objects.

A vise is used to hold an object in order to file it smooth. It has two adjustable jaws that hold a piece of hot iron securely in place for the blacksmith to work on.

THE ANVIL

This Saturday's featured artifact is the anvil! The anvil was known as the blacksmith’s work surface. Forging included heating and pounding iron, therefore the blacksmith needed a strong surface on which he could pound the iron to form various objects. The anvil was a heavy iron block, weighing up to 300 pounds and sat on a tree stump which sank into a deep hole in the ground so it would not wobble while the blacksmith worked on it. The blacksmith would cut the stump in order to be the right height, which could be neither too high nor too low. Most of the blacksmith’s work was done on the face of the anvil. The face had a coating of steel on it to prevent denting the anvil while the blacksmith would pound on it. The blacksmith would use the chipping block to make a bend in a piece of iron. The end of the anvil was known as the heel. The horn on the other end of the anvil, also known as the beak, was used to shape iron into curved or round objects.  

THE FORGE

This week’s featured artifact from our Blacksmith Shop is the Forge. The Forge was the most important part of the Blacksmith Shop. The Forge was made of bricks and had an open hearth or fireplace that was raised off the floor. The forge and its heat allowed for a blacksmith to heat iron which made the iron malleable or easier to shape. A blacksmith had to know how to control the size and temperature of the fire that was created in the Forge. He would judge the temperature by the change in colour and would adjust its heat to suit each of his tasks. The blacksmith would heat the iron until it was red, orange, yellow, or white. A dull red fire was used to smooth iron without changing its shape, whereas a white-hot fire made iron the most flexible. If the blacksmith needed the fire to be hotter, he would have added more coals and blew air on the flames. If he needed the fire to be cooler, he would have flicked cold water onto the coals. Once the iron was heated, the blacksmith was able to pound it with a hammer and craft things such as pots, pans, horseshoes, farming tools etc. Our Forge in the Olivier Hamelin Blacksmith Shop was rebuilt in 2014 in order to keep it up and running for blacksmith demonstrations at our special events.

    

      

What is a Blacksmith you may ask?

The village smithy, or blacksmith shop, was often located at the corner of two main roads so that it was easy to find. A blacksmith was a place where various types of tools and other objects were made out of metal.  It wasn’t unusual to see several people waiting at the shop for their objects due to the fact that the smithy was a popular meeting place in the 1800’s.

The role of a blacksmith was very diverse, not only was he the local toolmaker and “engineer,” he was sometimes called upon to act as a dentist, doctor, vet etc. The blacksmith was at the heart of every country village. The blacksmith often crafted the tools farmers needed such as metal parts for plows, hoes and rakes. He would have sharpened and repaired these items as well. Most people in the 1800’s owned iron objects such as pots and pans for cooking over an open fire in which the blacksmith would have made. He would also make useful objects like candle holders and lanterns for lighting the rooms in home and barns. Larger towns often had many blacksmiths who would become experts at forging one type of object; such as a locksmith who made locks and keys.