Setchfield and Field Blacksmith Shop Open For Business in Las Animas

Description: It was a Community Effort, But Park Wood, Rethabel and James Huff Were Instrumental in Helping the Setchfield and Field Blacksmith Shop Open at Bell Park in Las Animas.


Published: 10/26/2020
Byline: Hart

Blacksmith Shop Open for Business

By Kathleen Tomlin

October 25, 2020

Park Wood and Rethabel and James Huff were instrumental in helping finish the Setchfield Blacksmith Shop (pictured).  Rethabel’s (Field)’s dad had a blacksmith shop in this very building, and she donated the new replicated sign.  The County moved the building to Bell Park, and members of Rethabel’s family spent many volunteer hours moving all the items from the Kit Carson Museum shop to the Bell Park site.  James donated many volunteer hours building the shelf and covering walls with barnwood from Boggsville.  Gary Pritchard donated the barnwood and the hog panel to separate public from the blacksmith.  Park spent several hours with volunteers Sean Stieben, Jonathan Segers, and Chris Foerch finishing the shop and developing a new exhaust hood.  The Rawlings Foundation provided a grant for this labor of love.  Everything worked perfectly at the Grand Opening on a brisk autumn day.  Park had the forge fired up and was demonstrating blacksmith techniques.  Bent’s Old Fort representative, Joe Frausto, taught visitors how to make adobe bricks.  Donna Dodson, “School Marm”, welcomed visitors to the North Gageby School and demonstrated one-room country school teaching methods.  Joyce Brooks was our cheerful greeter and the Art Guild ladies had fun selling handmade items from the Old Trail Gallery.  Rob Moorehead had the fire pit ready for the kids to make s’mores.  Jackie and Kathleen were serving old fashioned Frito pies.  Several people walked away with door prizes from our sponsors, Dairy Queen, Linda Bourne, and Health Mart. Many volunteers wore old fashioned costumes and looked fantastic.  We would like to thank all the volunteers who made this event possible and especially thank those who helped finish the Shop.  We thank all those who took the time to come to our first event since February.  

 



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