Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum

The Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum is a museum dedicated to blacksmithing in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. It was built in 1902, and is the oldest operating blacksmith shop in Alberta. The building still stands on its original site and much of the machinery is operational, and original.[1][2]

History

1902 – 1942

The Blacksmith Shop had four different owners during its first four decades of operation. During this time, there were also several other blacksmith shops in the Lacombe area. There was quite the competition for this trade during the first half of the 20th century. Early pioneers of the area depended on tools which were fabricated by blacksmiths or ‘smittys’. Blacksmiths spent several years as an apprentice learning the skills of manipulating iron into useful equipment. Even though this was not the first Blacksmith Shop in Lacombe, it was the only one to operate through the early years of the community. In 1942, a local family purchased the shop and owned it for nearly 50 years.

1991 – 2011

In 1991, the Blacksmith Shop was purchased by the Lacombe & District Historical Society and restored as a museum. For the last 20 years, demonstrations have been held on special occasions, and for special functions. Nearly every citizen of Lacombe has seen a demonstration on one of these unique days. In 2011, the Blacksmith Shop Museum was designated by the Government of Alberta as a provincial historic resource.

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References
  1. Lacombe & District Historical Society: Blacksmith Shop Museum
  2. Virtual Museum of Canada (VMC): Blacksmith Shop Museum

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