Engine Club holds Hammer-In event

The LaGrange Engine Club welcomed the public to try their hand at blacksmithing with a demonstration and open forging session held at the Blacksmith Shop at the Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington on Nov. 12.

Guests were introduced to the art of blacksmithing with the help of master blacksmith artist Matthew Richards who taught newcomers the finer points of working with the metal after it is heated up to 2,600 degrees and bendable.

Richards led a demonstration on the techniques of twisting and tapering the metal and guided participants in making their own artistic creations from various types of hooks to a fireplace poker. A native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Richards is based in Lakewood where he operates his Ryu no Sakebi Studio producing original pottery and blacksmithing creations.

Engine Club Blacksmithing Administrator Anne Havenec said the group tries to promote and recreate oldtime traditions with much of what they do in using a coal forge inside the workshop where a group of a eager participants were hammering away.

“One of the things LaGrange tries to do is to restore and save. It was been moved here years ago and it worked out and everything. It was up and running two years ago. This is the first full year this month we’ve been having Hammer-Ins once a month,” Havenec said

Participant Stephen Fixx of Elyria was drawn to the art of blacksmithing a try after being influenced by early-20th century blacksmith artist Samuel Yellin.

“I appreciate blacksmithing as an art and it is probably the reason I am here because I enjoy it,” Fixx said. “He did amazing work. If you see these blood iron gates or fences or fireplace screens, he does the top of the top work.”

An avid woodworker, Fixx said after seeing the Engine Club demonstrate blacksmithing over the summer at the Lorain County Fair he was eager to give it a try after hearing about the monthly Hammer-In through social media.

“I said to myself, I want to do that. I love the idea of beating on a hammer and creating something,” Fixx added.

Founded in 1970, the LaGrange Engine Club was established to provide a forum for the promotion of infor- mation concerning steam and power engines along with other antique farm and industrial equipment to provide for their preservation and restoration.

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Jerry Robinson,left, of Willard, Ohio hammers a piece of wrought iron as master blacksmith Matthew Richards, right, observes at the Lorain County Fairgrounds Blacksmith Shop in Wellington on Nov. 12. The event was part as part of the LaGrange Engine...