SC Rewind: The Blacksmith Shop

In the current edition of Rewind Robert Smith goes back in time to recall the role of the oft-forgotten blacksmith trade and its key role in harness racing. This week he is asking for some input from the reading audience in assembling a list of people who have worked as horse shoers, blacksmiths or farriers; take your choice.

The rhythmic sound of the blacksmith's hammer hitting on an anvil was once a common sound in towns across the land. With the gradual disappearance of horses from our society and the changing times, that melodic tune is no longer heard. The early history of most settlements across North America list blacksmith's shops among the earliest buildings that sprang up in virtually every settlement. Today few are still standing but their presence was once of great importance in the building of our society. The men who made their living forging iron and shoeing horses were valued citizens.

In the small town where I grew up we still had two blacksmith shops.

This great old photo captures the yesteryear scene inside Harper Rennick's blacksmith shop which was located in Shawville, Quebec for many years. (Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives)

Blacksmith Harper Rennick stands proudly in front of his shop started by his father in 1914. Young Harper left school at the age of 17 to carry on in his father's trade. (Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives)

Blacksmiths have long been an important and essential part of harness racing but also the ones often forgotten or at least overlooked. When a horse is foaled its owner is congratulated. When he or she goes on to race and perhaps win, the owner along with the driver and trainer come in for praise. Even the groom is allowed in the winner's circle picture and might get a 10 spot for doing such a good job! But who shod the horse, trimmed their feet and often provided advice for horses with less than perfect feet? Unfortunately often no one gets any credit for any of those tasks!

A BARGAIN AT THE BLACKSMITH SHOP

This little "ditty" came to me many years ago and in those days it was printed on a sheet of paper; no emails or "twitters" back then. The man who sent it was one of the best our sport has ever known, and his name was Delvin Miller. The original I can't find, but the message has been committed to memory.

It seems that a certain horseman complained every time he brought a horse to the blacksmith shop and said the "Smithy" was charging way too much. One day in his own defense, the Blacksmith offered him an alternative pricing scheme. In those days the old shoes each took eight nails, so keep that in mind. He said "How be I charge you a penny for the first nail and then just double it for each of the next 31 nails?" The fellow stepped outside and did a little quick calculating. He reentered the shop and said "I guess that comes to $1.32 for the first shoe...is that the way you figure it?" The blacksmith nodded in the affirmative.

"Well it's Goodbye to your high prices!!" and the blacksmith began to tack on the shoes. Here is how the rest of the "Bargain" shoeing job played out.

Shoe #1: .01; .02; .04; .08; .16; .32; .64; $1.28

Shoe #2: $2.56; $5.12; $10.24; $20.48; $40.96; $81.92; $163.84; $327.68

Shoe #3: $655.36; $1,310.72; $2,621.44; $5,242.88; $10,485.76; $20,971.52; $41,943.04; $83,886.08

Shoe #4: $167,772.16; $335,544.32; $671,088.64; $1,342,177.20; $2,684,354.40; $5,368,798.80; $10,737,417.60; $21,474,834.20

Here is a little story that I copied from an old issue of Northeast Harness News, a once popular but now defunct New England harness racing journal. I found it quite interesting.

George "Buddy" Reed, a longtime New England harness driver, began his career before World War One. His father sent him as a young boy to the blacksmith shop to have a pair of farm work horses shod. As luck would have it, a man with a good looking speed horse happened by and Buddy swapped a work horse for him. The jubilant young man soon found that his father was less than pleased and informed Buddy that he had to pay him for the work horse. Coincidentally, the local fair just happened to be in progress and Buddy entered his new horse and won his first race. That beginning launched a career that spanned more than 65 years in the sport of racing.

This unknown blacksmith goes mobile and visits his clients when requested. (Northeast Harness News)

A LIST OF BLACKSMITHS

As mentioned earlier many blacksmiths have spent their entire careers working in virtual obscurity. Despite the important work they do, their names seldom reach the racing public. I am going to ask Rewind readers to send in the name (as many as you wish) of your favourite "Smithy" or of anyone you can think of that has served in that capacity. To start the proverbial "ball rolling " I am going to offer up a very short and random list of people that I have personally met or known (or heard of). This is a chance to mention your local blacksmith regardless of where you live.

• Bob Harris - Originally from London, Ont., later spent many years in the Windsor area including resident blacksmith at Windsor Raceway

• Bill MacMillan - Ancaster, Ont.

• Ross Siddall & son Ryan - Long associated with Bob McIntosh stable LaSalle, Ont.

• Leon Siple - From Norwich, Ont., spent close to 30 years operating his own blacksmith shop at Woodstock, Ont. Continues to offer his shoeing services to a few customers.

Quote For The Week: "A cow is of the bovine ilk; one end moo, the other end milk."

Who Is It?

Can you identify these two gents and perhaps identify where they are located in this photo? (Toronto Star photo)

Where Is It?

Can you identify the location of this shop where many outstanding horses have been (and continue to be) shod over the years? (Author's collection)