Simpson of BayView. In an interview in 1904 by Hedley Ross, Dougald records for the Charlottetown Patriot some of his blacksmithing jobs. Included in this was the work on the vessels — “the people’s whole living”; the Old Colonial Building in Charlottetown - especially the iron door and the vault; the Governor’s Island light house; shoeing oxen; and local black— smithing.

Mr. Henry taught James Quinn the blacksmithing trade. He later moved to the John Hillman forge. John Quinn, Joseph Quinn and William MacKenzie were later forge workers. At least two blacksmiths were kept busy in the village for many years.

The carriage shop worker was closely associated with the blacksmith as there were many intri- cate pieces which had to be welded together to make the wagons work. Lauchlin McKay was the first carriage shop owner. His brother Alexander joined him in this venture. James Coles followed in the same trade.

The “smithy” was able to shoe up to twenty-five horses a day. This was a remarkable achieve— ment when one considers the temperments of the individual horse. He had to contend with the ‘cranky’ one that was able to bite; the one that tried deliberately to walk on the smithy’s feet; or the ‘balking’ one that didn’t want to enter the building to be shod. Much care. foresight, strength, and agility was needed by the village blacksmith in order to have a satisfied customer

leave his shop.

Many of the smithy’s duties were not spent in shoeing horses. Some of his ‘extra’ work includ- ed making sleighs and wagons and ‘tireing’ them. The first wagon wheels were bound with leather thongs but did not last very long. Soon iron rings came into use. Ladders with exten- sions were a must for the blacksmith to make. As well, he mended pots and pans, made scythes and in later years repaired hay and harvest equipment. Any job that required repairs or fixing’, was taken to the blacksmith.

Along with the above goes the story that there was not a blacksmith in the area who could sur— pass the skill and perfect quality of James Quinn’s work. His work was so exact that he was able to put an ‘eye’ in a harness maker’s needle for Patrick Walsh.

Items of interest and prices charged for some items were taken from the Ledger of John Quinn between the years 1909 to 1915. These include:

making new wheelbarrow @ $6.00 fix a clock @ .50 make a crank for stove @ .25

mending knife @ .10 grinding knife @ .50

a new gate @ $2.00 fix an anchor @ .75 make pump tongues @ .50

hammer mat hooks n/c

repair coal scoop @ .40 work on separator @ .50

road machine repair @ $2.50

Mr. Quinn apparently raised the prices minimally for shoeing horses. In 1909 he charged 40 cents to remove four shoes while in 1916 he charged 75 cents. The price for putting on shoes also rose from $1.00 to $1.80. Other items of interest from the 1923 bills include: rimming a truck wagon wheel @ $1.50; shoeing a sleigh @ $1.60; building a truck wagon @ $38.00; and constructing a box sleigh for $16.00.

Payment for work completed at the blacksmith shop was not always given in specie. From Mr. Quinn’s records one notes that he accepted many things that would help to cut down on his

household and farm expenses. Some of these included:

700 lb. of hay = $5.25 20 bags turnips = $4.50 Beef valued at $5.25

2 days work = $3.00

hay — 1 load valued at $3.50 another load valued at $4.00 12 lb. potatoes @ .25 = $3.00

3 days work @ $3.10 20 lb. butter @ .24 a 1b. hauling coal - one load @ .50

second load @ .75

It is interesting to note that there are no ‘outstanding accounts’ pages in the book. Bills were more strictly remembered and dealt with than they are in today’s busmess world.

97