See the following article on the Fields Pond Smithy: "Build a Smithy, and They Will Come; Stategies for Museum Development," by Robert Schmick ( Museum Director, The Curran Homestead). Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter. November, 2009. This article identifies the origins of the smithy and the anticipated blacksmithing programming located at The Curran Homestead.
Click:http://www.mainemuseums.org/upload/UploadFolder/mamNews_Nov09.pdf


      Since 2009, The Curran Homestead has significantly increased its collection holdings of tools and equipment relevant to metal working and blacksmithing. Before this time there were a number of items in the collection that had come through the efforts of master blacksmith Bob Robinson of Stockton Springs, Maine. Robinson had grown up under the tutelage of his father, a Philadelphia-area blacksmith; his father  had learned the trade through the then prevalent practice of apprenticeships  as he too would later complete seeking a livelihood as a blacksmith, but by this time the demand for blacksmiths was on the wain. He pursued another trade, but often made use of his blacksmithing skills. The Split-Rock Forge was built by him in the early 1960s after a move to Maine. He has continued to keep the traditional art alive doing custom metal forge work for local and nationwide clients. His interest in share his skills with others and the historical significance of the art form led him to his connection with a number of non-profit organizations. Eventually, bob Robinson became a fixture at The Curran Homestead's "gatherings" setting up a portable forge in the barnyard and doing demonstrations. Public interest in these demonstrations inspired thoughts about creating a permanent blacksmithing shop at the farm. 

      Taking the idea of building a permanent smithy on the farm was taken a step further when Robinson secured a core collection of blacksmithing tools and equipment from donors. Ceramic flue and masonry were also purchased at this time, but actual construction was temporarily stalled for lack of funds to complete the  wood frame, siding, and roofing for such a structure that was necessitated for a year-round facility. Before the portable forge, anvil, and selection of hand tools came to the farm there were only a few pairs of farrier's tongs that were likely from the Currans' own use of work horses. Before 1914, Arthur Conquest with assistance from his son Edward ran a horse farm on the site, and this would have lent itself to frequent visits to the site by local farriers. Blacksmiths would have also been called out to farm locations for tasks like metal part fabrication and repair; "carriage ironers," as they were often called served the farmer in his maintenance of wagons, carriages, and horse-driven farm equipment. We know of several permanent smithies in Orrington that were functioning well into the 20th century, and trips to these establishments to seek repairs and part fabrication  were part of the farm's history. 

      The construction of a permanent structure for demonstrations, instruction and collections storage was deemed necessary to share the traditional art of blacksmithing with the public, and it was in no way meant to re-write history or deceive the public by insinuating that a smithy ever existed on the farm site. During its seventeen years, the museum has sought to develop educational offerings that focus on arts and crafts characteristic of 19th and early 20th century rural Maine life; the development of a permanent blacksmithing facility at the farm has been a monumental step in realizing this plan. Our programming  has often been demonstrational, but we have anticipated a time when we could offer courses that allowed hands-on learning over a time period longer than our usual and seasonal one day events. With both a structure and additional tools and equipment to satisfy the needs of a class of beginning blacksmithing students we believed that we could make an important step forward in the development of our educational mission to share skills and knowledge of Maine's rural past. The smithy has allowed us to offer classes in beginning blacksmithing that may not otherwise have had the opportunity. Of course, the smithy is still in the midst of development. It is our hope to introduce an outdoor blacksmithing scenario this summer (2010); we will be constructing a lean-to roof off off the smithy for this purpose. Such an arrangement will allow us to proceed with a planned double-firepan, double smoke chamber side-draft masonry forge inside the smithy in the near future. With the completion of this permanent forge structure, our long term goal is to create an historically accurate early 20th century blacksmith shop scenario for public events, demonstrations and  workshops relegating a nearby structure for future beginning blacksmithing and workshop opportunities.