Chapter 3 Early Establishments

BLACKSMITH SHOPS

Since farm operations are now completely mechanized and hors- es have been replaced by power-driven machinery, the blacksmith trade, once vital especially in a rural community, has all but disap- peared.

We are indebted to Robert Arsenault from Howlan, one of the last blacksmiths in Prince County, for an insight into the work of a smithy.

Some of the equipment used by a smith are a forge, an anvil, bel- lows, various clamps, a large hammer and a barrel of water. The forge is filled with hard coal; the bellows keeps fuel burning steadily by forced draft under the fire bed. The iron or metal held by clamps is plunged into the coals. When red hot it is hammered on the anvil to the desired size and shape, then immediately plunged into water to contract to its original size and to temper it.

To make a circular piece of iron for a wooden wheel, the inside of the wheel is measured with a sliding disk called a "traveller”. The iron is heated, then pounded into shape on a large cone and both ends welded. It is then placed around the wheel and plunged into water immediately to contract the iron and to ensure a perfect fit.

Different kinds of welding is also a part of a blacksmith’s trade. Robert considered welding done by a blacksmith more durable than that done with an electric welder.

The greater part of a smith’s work in earlier times consisted of horse shoeing and repairing transportation equipment such as wagon wheels, wagon axles and making horse shoes.

According to archival information, six blacksmiths operated in O’Leary before 1900, but the location of operations for most of them is unknown. They were Melvin MacAusland, Herman Adams, William Hayes, J.M. MacDonald, Hiram Woodside, and William Ellis (1899-1908).

R.H. (Herbert) Jelley built his shop across the street from Brian Willis’ store in 1912. He did iron work of Jelley Bros. and general blacksmith work for the public for many years.

Samuel Lidstone came originally from Ellerslie, later from Mt. Royal. Soon after his house in Mt. Royal burned (c. 1928) he moved his shop to O’Leary in front of the Livery Stable.

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