June 4th, 2010

Spent the last couple of days at a century farm being part of a living history re-enactment from the 1880's-ish. I was asked to run the blacksmithing forge and I had a lovely older man named "J" to be my assistant. "J" wanted to learn to do some forgework, so he volunteered to work at my station.

There was about 230 students from various schools all in the 4th grade whom were studying the 1800's in school. This program gives them some hands-on things to do to bring them out of the classroom and out of the school books.

Picture Above Left: The forge I was working with was from a WWI Army Calvary unit. Picture Above Right: This is one of my two anvils I had at the event. This one weighs about 90 pounds.

Pictures above: Some of the students working on blacksmithing skills. "J" is working the blower on the forge to keep the heart of the fire going strong. I am in the green  sweatshirt.

Pictures Above Left: "B" teaching students to use a drop spindle.
Pictures Above Right: A butter churn and all the kids got to take some home.

Pictures Below: A team working with the cross cut saw. One of the washboards at the clothes washing station.

Old Tom the trapper to the left and his frontier encampment to the right

Photos Above: The corn grinding station where kids took corn and made it into corn mea or flour.

It sure was alot of fun and I may be doing it for 2 weeks more this summer.