Manchester in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Blacksmith Shop

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

1. Blacksmith Shop Marker

Blacksmith Shop Historical Marker

Inscription. In 1877 local masons built this shop in eight days. Its first owner, William F. Neebling, built wagons and followed the blacksmith trade until 1909, when he sold the business to Theodore Morschheuser. John F. Schneider apprenticed to Morschheuser in 1911 and bought the shop in 1922. Schneider worked as a blacksmith until his death in 1952. The building, one of Michigan's last intact main-street blacksmith shops, was purchased by the Manchester Area Historical Society in 1982.

Erected 1983 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L1086.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1877.

Location. 42° 9.057′ N, 84° 2.191′ W. Marker is in Manchester, Michigan, in Washtenaw County. Marker is on East Main Street near Beaufort Street, on the left when traveling east. Mounted to wall of the Blacksmith Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 324 E Main St, Manchester MI 48158, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Village of Manchester Sesquicentennial/The Kingsley-Jenter House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Life on a Manchester Corner (about

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400 feet away); Village of Manchester (about 400 feet away); Manchester's Railroads (about 400 feet away); Exchange Place (about 700 feet away); The Founding of Manchester (about 700 feet away); History of the Manchester Mill (about 700 feet away); The Manchester Hotel and the Clinton Street Corner (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manchester.

Also see . . . Manchester Blacksmith Shop A Living Link to the Past. Article in The Manchester Mirror giving more information about the Blacksmith Shop. For example:
• "While there is now a standard door in the front, originally the whole opening in the brick was used as a door so that vehicles made in the shop could be rolled directly out to the customer, and when horses came to be shoed, they could be walked directly into the shop for their fitting."
• "There were originally three forges working away every day, but today only the center forge remains."
• "The back room of the shop was originally used for woodworking..." (Submitted on September 6, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Blacksmith Shop image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

2. Blacksmith Shop

Blacksmith Shop (front view from Main Street)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.