Beamsville in Lincoln in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Vosburgh Blacksmith Shop 1866

Vosburgh Blacksmith Shop Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, January 8, 2026

1. Vosburgh Blacksmith Shop Marker

Inscription. This was the site of William Vosburgh's blacksmith shop from 1866 until the early 1900s. During that time of horses, carriages, machinery and constant repairs, a skilled blacksmith was critical to the farming community and its success. Vosburgh, however, had other interests as well.

Behind this shop, he built a community ice rink where local hockey teams played. The goalie stood between two pipes embedded in the ice and the difficulty in determining if the puck actually went between them, often resulted in disputes over the referee's decisions. In 1889, to solve this problem, goalie Bill Fairbrother got a local fisherman, Aaron Grobb, to create nets which could be attached to metal frames built by Vosburgh. It worked well, and the very first hockey net was made right here on this site.

Erected by Friends of Lincoln’s History/Niagara North Federation of Agriculture.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 43° 9.957′ N, 79° 28.489′ W. Marker is in Lincoln, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Beamsville.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

It is on Central Avenue 0.1 kilometers north of King Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4309 Central Avenue, Lincoln ON L0R 1B0, 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,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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: 1909 Basket Factory (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Alanson Harris - Foundry Site (about 150 meters away); Beamsville High School (about 150 meters away); Jacob Beam Mill Stone (about 180 meters away); Clinton Township Hall 1851 (about 180 meters away); George Herbert Locke (about 180 meters away); Beamsville High School 1917 (about 180 meters away); The Howard House 1847 (about 210 meters away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Tim Boyd, January 8, 2026

2. Vosburgh Blacksmith Shop Marker

Centre of photo, looking north on Central Avenue

of all markers in Lincoln.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 9, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.