SMITHING IN TEXAS: Blacksmithing is about more than 
making horseshoes ... we'll explain on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy 
stands, and instead of equine footwear, he's making pots 
and pans. In fact, horseshoes were a minor part of a 
blacksmith's repertoire, according Bill Irwin, manager at 
Barrington Living History Farm at Washington on the 
Brazos.

"They were much more important as manufacturers. If you had 
anything made out of metal, it would have come from a 
blacksmith up until the industrial revolution when factories took 
over."

Lean more about Blacksmithing, October 29 and 30, when 
members of the Houston Area Blacksmiths Association 
and other smiths from around Texas meet at Barrington 
and demonstrate this vanishing art and science.

"We're going to be working with the blacksmiths to produce 
some things for the farm that will be used here. But they will 
also be demonstrating their wares that they normally make. 
Many of them are hobbyists, in that they'll take on specific 
projects and build them for themselves or for friends. Some of 
them are actually doing this as a job. They are full-time 
blacksmiths. And they make a number of things out of metal 
that they general public might be interested in, or could buy. 
But the important thing is they're really showing folks that art 
of working with metal - taking a cold piece of steel, and using 
fire to turn it into something useful."

Cost to attend this event is $4 dollars for adults and $2 
dollars for students.

Visit the events calendar on the Texas Parks and Wildlife 
web site for more information: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us
That's our show ... now go outside and play ... for Texas 
Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.