Yamacraw Village in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Blacksmith Shop
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2013
1. Blacksmith Shop Marker
The Blacksmith Shop had 13 forges.
The railroad complex needed blacksmiths to forge iron locomotive and rolling stock parts, hinges and other hardware for buildings and also tools and equipment. Some of the forged parts were sent to the Machine Shop for threading and other milling. The western end of the Blacksmith Shop may have served as a foundry for non-iron metals. Bronze bearings and Babbitt bearings were common items that foundry workers made. Each forge had an underground flue to exhaust coal smoke. These flues were connected to a central flue which led to the exterior smokestack.
“…The Company, we believe, do all their work in wood, iron and brass, except iron casting. Their forges are extensive and embrace the only steam forge we have yet seen in Georgia…” —The Weekly Georgia Telegraph, Macon April 26, 1859.
Hourly and Monthly Wages for Blacksmiths
* 1917 - 52.5 cents ($107.10 a month)
* 1920 - 85 cents ($173.40 a month)
* 1921 - 77 cents ($157.08 a month)
* 1922 - 70 cents ($142.80 a month)
In 1911, blacksmiths’ helpers, mostly African-Americans, made 15 cents an hour.
(captions)
(upper left) A line shaft ran from the Boiler Room on the right to the Blacksmith Shop on the left. The shaft provided power to tools in the Blacksmith Shop
(lower
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is April 26, 1951.
Location. 32° 4.5′ N, 81° 6.117′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Yamacraw Village. Marker can be reached from Louisville Road, 0.2 miles east of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the grounds of the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 655 Louisville Road, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Smokestack (here, next to this marker); Boiler Room (within shouting distance of this marker); Planing Shed & Lumber Shed (within shouting distance of this marker); Central Of Georgia Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Drop Table (within shouting distance of this marker); Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Turntable (within shouting distance of this marker); Machine Shop (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.
Also see . . .
1. Georgia State Railroad Museum. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 2, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Coastal Heritage Society
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2013
2. Blacksmith Shop Marker
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2013
3. Blacksmith Shop Marker
Photographed By Byron Hooks, March 11, 2014
4. Blacksmith Shop Marker (inside the shop)
Photographed By Byron Hooks, March 11, 2014
5. Blacksmith Shop - Metal Planner
Photographed By Byron Hooks, March 11, 2014
6. Blacksmith Shop
Photographed By Byron Hooks, March 11, 2014
7. Buffalo Complete Wood Worker at the Blacksmith Shop
Credits. This page was last revised on October 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 704 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 17, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 24, 2014, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
