Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum facts for kids
The Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum is a special place in Lacombe, Alberta. It's like stepping back in time to see how blacksmiths worked long ago! The Lacombe Museum, which is part of the Lacombe and District Historical Society, takes care of it. This blacksmith shop has been used continuously since 1902. It's the only old blacksmith shop left in Lacombe today. Sometimes people call it the Glass Street Shop or Selvais Welding.
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History of the Blacksmith Shop
The Lacombe Blacksmith Shop first opened its doors in 1902. A blacksmith named A. F. Weddle started the business. The shop was in a great spot, very close to the center of town. In the early 1900s, this street (now called 49 Street) also had other important businesses. There was another blacksmith shop, a place to keep horses (a livery stable), and a coal seller.
Weddle ran the shop for a short time. In 1903, he sold the business to two brothers, Alfred and Stanley Watson. The Watson Brothers worked at the blacksmith shop for four years. Then, in 1907, they sold it to another blacksmith named John McNab.
John McNab ran the shop by himself for many years. In 1926, he teamed up with John Reeves. Just one year later, in 1927, Reeves bought the shop. He continued to run the business until 1939.
In 1939, the Selvais family moved to Lacombe. Jules Selvais, a blacksmith from Belgium, first rented the shop. Later, he bought it from Reeves. The Selvais family owned the shop for 53 years, longer than anyone else!
In 1993, the Lacombe and District Historical Society bought the shop from the Selvais family. Their goal was to turn it into a museum about blacksmithing. One year later, in 1994, the historical society opened the shop to the public. That's when it became the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum.
Building Structure and Restoration
The building was built in 1902. It has a rectangular shape with a special front that faces 49 Street. Most of the building is still original, including the walls and floors from 1902. It's made of a wooden frame covered with corrugated metal.
Today, there is one coal forge inside the building. A forge is a special furnace used to heat metal. In the past, there might have been more forges along the south wall. You can still see holes where other chimneys would have been. The north wall was usually kept clear. This was where blacksmiths would shoe horses.
In 1953, another part was added to the west side of the original shop. This new section has been used as a welding shop ever since.
The Lacombe and District Historical Society has done a lot of work to fix up the building. They started right after they bought it in 1993. This first project made the front of the building look like it did in 1902. They put in sliding doors. They also fixed the foundation, walls, and the outside covering of the building. The shop was emptied so they could dig up the floor and repair or replace the support posts.
In 2019, all the wood on the outside of the building was restored. The original windows were fixed, and new storm windows were made to match them.
In 2021, more restoration work happened on the outside of the building. The roof and siding were repaired or replaced as needed.
During 2021 and 2022, repairs were made inside the shop. They fixed the motor and drive shaft that power the two trip hammers. Trip hammers are large, powerful hammers used to shape metal.
Visiting the Museum
The Lacombe Blacksmith Shop has been a museum since 1994. It shows how blacksmiths worked. The museum is open to visitors every year from Victoria Day weekend until Labour Day weekend.
When you visit, you can meet people called "interpreters." They give live demonstrations of blacksmithing. They use the coal forge inside the shop to heat and shape metal. The inside of the shop has a work area with a sand floor. You can see the forge, two trip hammers, a drill press, and many hand tools. Blacksmiths use these tools in their demonstrations.
The museum also has many old tools and items on display. These show what blacksmithing was like in the early 1900s.
Throughout the summer, the Lacombe Museum offers blacksmithing workshops. These workshops let people learn blacksmithing skills. You can learn in one of the oldest blacksmith shops in Alberta!
Virtual Exhibit and Tour
The Lacombe Museum has a virtual exhibit on its website. This online exhibit tells the history of the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum. It also offers a virtual tour of the building.
Special Designations
The original 1902 building has received special recognition. These designations do not include the 1953 addition.
On May 16, 2011, the Province of Alberta named the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop a Provincial Historic Resource. This means it is an important historical place for the whole province.
On September 26, 2015, the City of Lacombe officially named the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop a Municipal Heritage Resource. This means it is an important historical place for the city.
The Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum is also recognized by the Alberta Museums Association. The Michener House Museum is another museum that has this recognition.
