Category
Historic Building
Blacksmith Shop
A 44-sided shop built in the early 1930s to hold tools from local blacksmith shops and keep traditional craft visible.
Built
Early 1930s
Known For
44 sides and 44 corners
Collection
Tools from five defunct shops
Open To Visitors
Seasonal / During Tours
A Working Shop of Many Sides
The Blacksmith Shop was built in the early 1930s after Henry Ford’s blacksmith shop in Dearborn captured public attention. David and Stephen Boothe answered in their own way, creating a shop with 44 sides and 44 corners and filling it with tools gathered from five defunct blacksmith shops in the area. The walls and work spaces show the tools used to repair wheels, shoe horses, and keep everyday equipment in working order. The Friends of Boothe restored the shop and made the forge operational again by restoring and adding the bellows and extending the chimney.
What to Look For
- The unusual 44-sided building form
- Forge, bellows, chimney, and working demonstration area
- Tools used for repair, horseshoeing, and jobbing work
- Stacks of horseshoes and dense workshop displays
- Traditional craft connections for school programs
Gallery
Preserving the Blacksmith Shop
Preserving working spaces like the Blacksmith Shop keeps traditional craft and local history tangible for visitors. The Friends of Boothe Park rely on volunteers, members, and donors to care for the buildings, collections, gardens, and stories throughout the park.
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