Made by Hand: Essentials
This coming weekend historic trade demonstrators will be showing the craftmanship behind some household essentials. Early New England food and shelter as we know it were made possible by the existence of items crafted by a blacksmith. Blacksmiths produced tools and nails for building, implements for cooking, farm tools, as well as the gear and shoes required for farm animals. Broom-makers similarly provided a critical cleaning implement. Every house needed one or two, and these would need to be renewed from time to time. Blacksmith Rick Martin and Broom-maker Bob Aborn will demonstrate their fascinating crafts on Saturday, October 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
In high school, Bob Aborn came across a broom-making demonstration at the Rockland Maine Lobster Festival. He spent time observing and talking with the craftsperson to find out more. “I spent an hour or two talking with him. Learning about the plant of broom corn, and how it was transformed into a useful thing.”
Bob has always had a general interest in early history with ancestry dating back to Salem, Massachusetts in 1636. He grew up on a farm and developed an interest in many different things that he observed there. What fascinated him about broom-making however was this: “Here’s something you could grow, that you could actually make something that can help you with household chores.” He is still active in researching broom corn, and when and how it got introduced as a crop in different locations.
Bob learned to craft brooms through trial and error. He sought out other craftspeople when he could, even making a trip to the North Carolina state fair, to see a gentleman demonstrating the peeling of birch, which was another method for making brooms. He had to improvise making his own tools, and has also purchased some, including an antique broom pounder made in Hadley, MA by Caleb Dickinson & Son who produced broom-making tools into the 1950s.
The brooms he makes are good performers. He likes hearing people say “I’ve had one of your brooms for 20 years and I still use it every day.” He knows they are well-made.
Rick Martin’s interest in blacksmithing began with an undergraduate degree in history. He decided to take a year off before graduate school and sought employment at history museums. He was fortunate to find himself at Old Sturbridge Village in the company of many others like himself – very interested in history and craft. Rick started with shoes and pottery, however a roommate encouraged him to start blacksmithing and soon he was hooked. “I learned from Tim Dauphinais and Rob Lyons. They took the time to teach me.”
“There is something about fire, earth, air, and water. Taking a piece of metal, heating it up, hitting it with hammer, and really making something.” After learning the trade, Rick wanted his own shop. He needed both tools, and a place to set up. “At that time there were auctions that you could go to and still get blacksmithing. Now that antique tools are more collectible, it is difficult to get them at good prices. I was able to outfit a shop at a decent price. I don’t think you could do that now. “
He also has purchased some tools that are still made today. There are still companies in the US and Germany that make blacksmithing tools for farriers – people who shoe animals. “That’s still a viable 21st century blacksmithing trade. Horses need to be shod every 3 months.” Rick has purchased tools from a company in Wisconsin. This is a good source but the new tools lack a certain something. “Its new and cold out of a box - not old, loved, and used by a blacksmith 150 years ago.“
Rick’s father had a summer camp in Portland Maine and offered the use of the garage for his first blacksmith shop. After 3 or 4 years he relocated to the Pioneer Valley and has lived and continued the art of blacksmithing here for 15 years.
Rick describes the centrality of blacksmithing in the daily life of early New England – “Blacksmithing was as essential in the past as our need for an electrician today. Or the auto mechanic. Try to live your life without a good auto mechanic!”
Blacksmith Rick Martin and Broom-maker Bob Aborn will demonstrate their fascinating crafts on Saturday, October 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.