The Smithy

The Smithy. . The blacksmith shop was an essential component of agrarian life and the heart of the community. Society's dependence upon the horse for travel and farming required the services of a blacksmith, or smithy as they were called, to care for the horse and to make, repair, and even invent horse drawn equipment. The blacksmith's shop, the forerunner of our modern hardware store, also produced common household objects, agricultural equipment, building supplies, and decorative items to meet the needs of the community., Blacksmiths were most closely associated with horses, for they were renown for keeping horses and mules shod and repairing and making horse related items. Blacksmiths showed even greater skills in their ability to create tools for construction of buildings, cooking ware, farm implements, weapons of war, and creative items., The smithy was an essential member of the community. His work was so specialized, his skills so unique, and his tools so precise that his service was invaluable. Blacksmiths were not necessarily educated individuals, but intelligent skilled craftsman with imagination and the ability to visualize a finished project. The smithy may have received training in two ways. During colonial times many professional skills were handed down from generation to generation through the guild system in which schools were established to teach a specific trade. The other method to become a smithy was an apprenticeship in which a young man would train under an established blacksmith to learn a trade., The blacksmith workshop was a mesmerizing place with a roaring fire, flying sparks, the smell of smoke, the clinking of hammers, and the hissing of the hot metal as it was dipped into the slack tub to cool and temper. The smithy deftly worked metal using a collection of staple tools. Basic essential tools were the forge, the centerpiece of his workshop; a chimney to allow the smoke to escape; the hearth to allow the metal to heat; bellows to create a steady flow of air to the fire; and the slack tub to cool the metal and make it stronger. The most recognizable tool associated with a blacksmith was the anvil which typically weighed from 100 to 300 pounds. A collection of hand tools consisting of hammers, hardies, tongs, vice grips, chisels, and files were used to fashion many items. The workshop was often well attended by many locals called loafers, who watched the smithy create or repair tools while socializing with others and passing the time. Often the workshop became a local meeting place because the atmosphere was so intriguing that it prompted discussions and admiration of the smithy and his creations., The industrialization of America brought about the demise of blacksmiths, but their creative ability, technical skills, and indomitable spirit made them a cornerstone of American history., According to the 1810 census, 10,029 people resided in Putnam County, an area that covered 360.7 square miles. For the purpose of order and protection, the county was divided into twelve militia districts and Eatonton. Difficulty of travel and the immediate needs of patrons resulted in the establishment of 40 forges throughout the county., This display, containing a collection of blacksmith artifacts from forges located in Putnam County, provides a view of one of America's most intriguing crafts and its tools., Eagle Scout Project completed on July 20th, 2019 , John Kendrick Holmes , Troop 1966 of the Far East Asia Council, Shenzhen, China , Grandson of local Eatonton residents David and Carole Thomas.