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On Saturday, blacksmith Matt Schreiner was at the Pound House Farmstead & Museum to demonstrate how pioneers made simple, every day objects. Visitors could watch as he used the forge to heat the metal and pound it into shape.
“Blacksmiths used to make everything. Blacksmiths were considered the king of all trades,” Matt said. “If you were a barber and you needed scissors, you went to the blacksmith. If you were a carpenter and you needed hammer, nails or a saw, you went to the blacksmith. If you were a farmer and you needed a plow, you went to the blacksmith.”
Saturday’s frigid weather put a damper on the demonstration, leaving it too cold to work the metal properly — or draw much of a crowd. But there will be more opportunities in the future.
The Pound House Farmstead & Museum will have blacksmithing demonstrations during its Pioneer Day event on May 16, along with demonstrations on quilt making, leather working, candle dipping and needlework. For more information, visit https://phfmuseum.org.
