Be A Blacksmith For A Day At Heritage Village July 7, 8

Blacksmith Larry Stuth. Submitted.

The Door County Historical Society will present the program “Blacksmith for a Day” on July 7 & 8 at Heritage Village at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay.

The program idea came from Heritage Village visitors who watched the blacksmiths at work since 2009. They often commented, “I would like to try this sometime,” explained blacksmith volunteer Al Briggs. Blacksmith for a Day is a great opportunity to try blacksmithing before investing $150 for a 16-hour/four-week class.

The program is an opportunity to experience elementary blacksmithing. “Participants will leave with a small item made either an S hook or leaf; they will have an opportunity to see what iron can do,” explained blacksmith volunteer Larry Stuth. Depending on their natural skills, the blacksmithing participant may need an hour or four hours depending on their natural skills working with metal. Program participants should wear cotton fabric and bring safety glasses. The fee for the program is the admission to the Heritage Village ($6 for adults) and $10 for the program. Participants may be as young as six years of age, but must have a parent present, as they work alongside a local blacksmith in a traditional blacksmith shop.

A special feature of the program for Village guests will be viewing of the “Ulfberht” sword fashioned by Richard Furrer of Door County Forgeworks for the NOVA special “Secrets of the Viking Sword.”

The Door County Historical Society’s Heritage Village at Big Creek is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, adjacent to the Collins Learning Center. The program will be held from 10 am to 2 pm and has a special fee of $10 per participant, in addition to the daily adult admission fee of $6. The Village is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm. For more information, visit doorcountyhistoricalsociety.org or call 920.421.2332.