Ball's Falls in Lincoln in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

The Blacksmith Shop c. 1850s

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 11, 2025

1. The Blacksmith Shop c. 1850s - Marker

Inscription. Backsmithing was one of the most important professions in an early settler village. The blacksmith would make tools, horse shoes, and other metal materials as needed.

The first recorded blacksmith in the village of Glen Elgin was Ira C. Course, who worked here in 1854. However, it is likely a blacksmith worked in the village prior to this.

Blacksmiths heat metal over a forge, then hammer and bend the metal into tools. Boys aged 10-12 would apprentice under a blacksmith for seven years, living and working with the blacksmith and his family. Throughout this time, the blacksmith would teach his apprentice the knowledge required to operate his own blacksmith shop. The original blacksmith shop was located in front of the Ball Home along Sixth Avenue. The blacksmith shop seen on site today is a reproduction.

Erected by Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 43° 8.043′ N, 79° 22.919′ W. Marker is in Lincoln,

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Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Ball's Falls. It can be reached from Sixth Avenue, on the right when traveling west. The marker is within Ball's Falls Conservation Area, along a walking path, 60 metres north of the road, and 50 metres north-east of the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3192 Sixth Avenue, Lincoln ON L0R 1S0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fairchild Cabin c. 1800s (within shouting distance of this marker); St. George Anglican Church 1864 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Village of Glen Elgin (within shouting distance of this marker); Glen Elgin Settlement - Ball's Falls

The Blacksmith Shop image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Westell, July 11, 2025

2. The Blacksmith Shop

(about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Ball Home 1846 (about 90 meters away); The Grist Mill 1809 (about 90 meters away); The Saw Mill 1816 (about 90 meters away); Ball's Grist-Mill (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lincoln.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 125 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.