HAVERHILL — Residents in the small town of Haverhill – pop. 163 – witness its population increase mightily but albeit temporarily from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.

That is when the late Matthew Edel’s blacksmith shop is open to the public free-of-charge.

Recreational vehicles, school and tour buses, and sedans regularly negotiate the town’s narrow blacktopped and gravel streets before pulling up to their destination.

They come to see Edel’s blacksmith shop exactly how he left it when he locked the doors for the last time before he died in 1940.

Horseshoes remain on a wire strung from the ceiling with customer’s names affixed.

A giant anvil and other tools of the trade lay undisturbed after 86 years and counting. Inside is a dirt floor, occasionally interrupted by several thick, wide and 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. Each row bears the name of a customer from decades ago.

Until the advent of farm machinery horses were needed for planting, harvesting, transportation and other chores needed to maximize farm operations.

On one of the rafters near the stall is a picture of Edel and customers. Nearby is the same anvil and tools 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 86 years.

Edel opened the shop in 1883. He was a German immigrant, a skilled artisan and inventor. He was awarded several U.S. patents, according to archives.

Edel and his family lived above the shop for a time before building living quarters nearby.

“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,” said Pat Kopsa of Laurel.

Kopsa is a shop tour guide. He is a retired educator from East Marshall Community School District.

Near Edel’s desk are 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.

During a visit last year, 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.

On May 16 and 17, members of the Upper Midwest Blacksmith’s Association (UMBA) returned to the shop for its annual spring conference, said member Bill Roads of Haverhill.

The demonstrations were open to the public. On May 30, the Marshalltown Public Library (MPL) and the Historical Society of Marshall County in nearby Marshalltown jointly hosted a tour of the historic site.

That event was open to the public too. Roads, a shop docent, said he always looks forward to UMBA. He has been a member of UMBA for more than 30 years.

Roads said he is excited to see knife-making demonstrations among other events featured and exchange news and more with fellow members.

“We have members from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin,” he said.

His interest in the venerable trade came about as a result of blacksmiths visiting Edel’s shop for events. He said he would ‘hang-out’ with them, when one day he was asked to join.

More than 30 aficionados of the age-old craft of blacksmithing turned-out last year.

James Davidson of UMBA worked on his “folded-axe” making skills while hammering on an anvil. He answered questions about the tools and technique.

“UMBA is a community of amateur and professional blacksmiths,” according to its website.

“We share our love of the hand-forge metal work through demonstrations, workshops, local hammer-ins, as well as our newsletter, website and this Facebook page. Blacksmithing varies. Some have it as a hobby, some have it as a full-time job. Some make beautiful gifts, some make handy tools, and so much more. We show respect no matter what. We all love what we do.”

The UMBA is a 501c3 organization.

Roads is also known in the central Iowa area for his work in promoting the annual Mid-Iowa Antique Power Show (MIAPS) every August on its grounds in the 2000 block of Jessup Ave. adjoining the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.

Hundreds of attendees show up for the event to see the workings of antique tractors and more. This 42nd annual event is July 31-Aug. 2 and will feature Ford and Leader tractors among other exhibits.

Admission at the Edel shop 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 For information about MIAPS visit https://business.marshalltown.org.