FOCUS ON HISTORY by Barbara Barker FEBRUARY 1998 The Village Blacksmith Under a spreading chestnut-tree The village smithy stands; The smith, a might man is he With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands. So begins the well-known poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1840. Blacksmithing was a craft that had its beginnings 2500 years ago. In the early days of life in America, each village had its blacksmith. They were an important part of the community. The blacksmith, so called because he worked with black metal (iron), worked at his forge, using a hot-fired pit, bellows, hammer, chisel, and tongs. He pounded out (forged) the red-hot iron on his anvil into a useful implements for the farmer, shipbuilder, or housewife. He sometimes filled the role of farrier, wheelwright, veterinary surgeon, doctor, even dentist if no other help was available. About the oldest manufacturing of any kind in Hanover was that of iron working. At first the ore was found in the nearby swamps and ponds, the pellets raked out, melted down and used by the blacksmith and the larger forges. Those of us who have lived in Hanover before the filtration plant was in operation remember the rusty colored water that came from the deposits of iron still in our ground. Iron Mine Brook in South Hanover deserved its name. Matthew Stetson, grandson of Cornet Robert Stetson, was granted a part of the so called common land in the Four Corners area, then a part of Scituate before 1727. Here he built his house, (233 Washington St.). He was probably the new towns first blacksmith. His shop stood near the corner about where Mary Lous coffee shop is now located. A town record of February1734 speaks of laying out a part of Broadway beginning at Matthew Stetsons shop. Matthew Stetson also served as schoolmaster during the winter terms as well as practicing his blacksmith trade. About 1742 he sold his house and shop to Meletiah Dillingham also a blacksmith and continued working in the shop. Being located near the shipyards it no doubt did much business making chains and other findings for the ships. Meletiah Dillingham was followed in the blacksmith trade by his son, Joshua. About 1802 the house was bought and occupied by Joseph Eells whose father had a blacksmith shop on the opposite corner. Joseph Eells and his brother, Robert, continued in the blacksmithing trade in the shop which was located in back of where Lorraines Cake Shoppe is now. Following are examples taken from their account book which reveal the type of work and prices of the trade. Seth Chapin (minister of Congregational Church)To setting one shoe on your hors-10 cents. To mending your chaise (carriage) 25 cents To fitting a pare of sills to your slay $1.33--Elisha Bass To 12 ribbets on your gigg--(He means rivets)--Rev. Wolcott (rector of St. Andrews) To shoe your hors all round new $1.17. To setting one oxe shoe 12 cents. (Spelling original to account book) Warren Wright (born 1809), great grandfather of Betsy Sylvester Robinson, kept a shop in the same vicinity near his home at 176 Washington St. His portrait (pictured here) is displayed in the Stetson House. Later Jim Jones, pictured here, plied his trade in this area for over 40 years and certainly looks like Longfellows village blacksmith. Charlie Gleason says, Jim Jones was the last blacksmith in these parts equipped to shoe oxen. Gleason also tells that Jones was also the victim of Fourth of July tricks and would find the village boys had often hoisted a wagon wheel up in a tall tree for Mr. Jones to retrieve. E.Y Perry moved part of the Eells shop to Broadway near the present fire station. Tom Turner used it for making carriages. A fire destroyed the building, and in 1896 a new shop was built. Al Morrill was the blacksmith, later Ellie Curtis. According to Charlie Gleason, this blacksmith shop was a small hall for social events, but was rather smelly. People were not so particular of odors some years ago. Charlie Stearns was another blacksmith associated with this location. This shop later became Percy Bonneys woodworking and repairing business, Josephs (the clothier), Hit or Miss, a mattress store, and is now a real estate office. In South Hanover Fred Whites blacksmith shop was located near the location of the fire station. In West Hanover, on Pleasant St. opposite Eliabs Mill was located the wheelwright and blacksmith shop for that village. In Assinippi Frank Algers blacksmith shop could be found in the triangle opposite the cemetery. With the coming of the automobile, the decline of the use of horse and carriage, and modern manufacture, the skills of the blacksmith were not longer in demand. Many shops became garages and gas stations. The blacksmith became a mainly a farrier, a shoer of horses. Now most farriers carry their tools in their trucks and travel to their appointments. The village blacksmith shop is gone, a remnant of the past.
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 12:41:55 +0000
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