T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY James Davidson, president of the Upper Midwest Blacksmith’s Association, hammers metal on an anvil as part of a demonstration in axe-making Saturday in Haverhill.

HAVERHILL — More than 30 aficionados of the age-old craft of blacksmithing turned-out Saturday and Sunday for a demonstration in the quiet village of Haverhill.

James Davidson, president of the Upper Midwest Blacksmiths’ Association (UMBA), worked on his “folded-axe” making skills while hammering on an anvil. He answered questions about the tools and technique as part of the Upper Midwest Blacksmith Association’s (UMBA) 2025 Spring Conference.

Fittingly, Davidson’s demonstration was done next door to the famed Edel Blacksmith Shop and Museum (EBSM). It was an active business servicing the needs of villagers and area farmers from 1883 to 1940. It closed in 1940 when proprietor Matthew Edel died.

Regardless, the building’s interior is now what it was like the last day Edel locked the doors. Inside is a dirt floor, occasionally interrupted by well-worn wood planks which Edel used as a stall to shoe horses and for other shop functions.

Above the stall are wires strung with different varieties of metal horseshoes where each row bore the name of a local farmer. For decades, horses were needed for planting, harvesting, transportation and other chores needed to maximize farm operations.

Across the room from the photo is the same anvil Edel used to repair farm tools and more. On nearby work benches are hammers and tools galore with thick coats of dust … mainly undisturbed for 85 years.

On Saturday morning, the loud noises of Davidson’s hammer and tong on anvil were heard once more in the village when Edel plied his craft.

“Practicing blacksmithing as a hobby since 2014, Davidson has always leaned towards tool and hardware making,” according to the UMBA website. “He has long held a dream of forging his own axes, hatchets, and hammers. A handful of failed attempts at the ‘punched-eye’ method over the years resulted in him ‘kicking that can go down the road.’ However, a recent vacation to Sweden and Denmark in March resulted in a fortuitous visit to famed blacksmith Nils Ogren whose specialty is forging axes of the traditional Scandinavian style.”

Upon returning home, Davidson applied the lessons learned from Ogren and made his axe. On Saturday, he passed around one of his axes with a thick, sharp blade and a hefty wood handle.

Bill Roads of Haverhill is a member of UMBA.

He was taking part of the activities from the seat of a golf cart having recently undergone knee surgery. He lives next door to the EBSM. His interest in the venerable trade came about as a result of blacksmiths visiting the EBSM for events.

He said he would ‘hang out’ with them, when one day he was asked to join UMBA.

“I have been interested in the trade for approximately 30 years,” said Roads. “And I will be back at it once my knee is better.”

Roads said UMBA is made up of blacksmith hobbyists and tradesmen from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

“Two weeks ago, we were in Missouri for a demonstration,” he said. “We have events like this during the year throughout the Upper Midwest.”

As part of Davidson’s demonstration, he discussed the tools and skills needed to forge axes of the traditional folded construction. Following this, all the steps of forging folded axes were discussed. On Sunday, Davidson planned to complete the hatchet head, it having been heat-treated and ground. Finally, it would be fitted to a ‘haft’ or handle, according to the event agenda.

Other activities scheduled for the two-day event included an auction, club business and socializing at the nearby Haverhill Social Club restaurant and tavern. EBSM docent Pat Kopsa, a retired educator who lives in Laurel, had several opportunities Saturday to describe the EBSM, its tools and Edel family history to the UMBA attendees.

He showed Edel’s unique desk, table saw, forge and anvil. At its peak, there was a blacksmith shop every five miles in rural areas.

“Edel and his wife Maria lived above the shop and raised three children there until they could afford to buy a house in the village,” Kopsa said.

Near Edel’s desk were a number of iron crosses several feet high to mark graves. A single vine ran the cross’s length. One is on Maria’s grave in the nearby cemetery.

Kopsa pointed out an old black and white photo with Edel’s son Louis Edel, Edel and farmer John Stalzer. Louis was a mechanic who used the garage for his business. He continued that work there until 1952.

Kopsa has been a docent for several years, and said he enjoys telling about the shop and adjoining garage to groups young and older, large and small.

“One of my favorite tours was given to a group of ‘singles’ with a wide range of ages involved in agriculture,” he said.

Matt Edel, a skilled artisan and inventor, was awarded several U.S. patents, according to Historical Society of Marshall County (USMC) archives. The German immigrant also developed and marketed a number of tools for blacksmiths and farmers.

The EBSM is owned by the State Historical Society of Iowa, Inc., but museum operations are managed by the HSMC. That not-for-profit organization in Marshalltown hires docents and ensures the property is maintained. The state reimburses HSMC for docent wages and expenses. The EBSM is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. daily.

Admission is free of charge and it is open to the public. Contact 641-752-6664 or info@hsmcia.org. For information about UMBA, visit www.umba-forge.com.