For those who visited the John R. Park Homestead recently, it was certainly a step back in time.
At the annual Lost Arts Festival, those who came could watch a blacksmith work in the forge, try on uniforms from Amherstburg’s Fort Malden Militia or listen to tales of how things were done in the 19th century.
Duncan Wright was busy working the forge in the blacksmith shop, even though at times, especially in August, temperatures can reach over 100 degrees.
“I grew up in Peterborough and they used to have a small pioneer village. They used to make horseshoes and I fell in love with it,” said Wright. “Twenty years later I started working here at the John R. Park Homestead and as part of our interpretation position, they trained you as a blacksmith.
It is hot, heavy and often times noisy work, but Wright seemed to enjoy it and one of the trickier things to master, especially at the Homestead, is doing the intense physical labour of bending the metal, while explaining to onlookers what he is doing.
“Answering the questions is good because it gives you a break. You have to pace yourself.”
Wright said that on Sunday it took about 20 minutes for the fire in the forge to reach the desired temperature over 2,000-degrees. Anything hotter and the metal can’t be manipulated.
“Anything above that and the steel will burn. It would breakdown into impurities and it will sparkle.”
While he was making small ornamental items at the forge, he admits that he has had some much larger projects including a four-foot-long fire poker.
Besides blacksmithing, other lost arts being demonstrated were plein air painting, woodworking, textile spinning and weaving and button making. The festival celebrates old fashioned artistry through live demonstrations making it an immersive experience.
The event was very well attended and it gave Ria Vermuelen a chance to show off her talent of card weaving. This is when a playing card is used to separate individual threads.
“It is an old method of weaving narrow bands. These will end up as shoelaces,” said Vermuelen.
Essex County Weavers Guild, Lac Ste. Claire Voyageurs, Park House Tinsmiths and the militia all put on great demonstrations. There were also several vendors and for those who wanted to get a more hands-on experience, they could lend a hand with laundry the old-fashioned way.
While the John R. Park house itself, which was built in 1834 is undergoing restoration, it is hoped that it will be open to the public by Christmas time.
Up next for at the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s historical site is the popular Harvest and Horses to be held October 6.
By Fred Groves
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