Work Through Time: Cape Breton Stories of Land & Sea

Duncan MacDonald of Gray's Hollow operated a blacksmith shop near his mill. Duncan learned his trade by working with blacksmith Sam J. Peters of North Sydney. He shod horses and performed all kinds of iron work including the production of anchors, bolts, sleigh shoes, iron bars, stove lifters, pokers, irons for cart boxes, and wheelbarrows.

Children were fascinated by the coal fire in the forge that was blown into a flame by bellows. His shop was a community gathering place as most every family had a horse and many two or more. They met at the forge for conversation and company while they waited their turn to have their horses shod. Duncan made the iron shoes for the horses feet though the horseshoe nails were imported by the keg. Duncan fashioned the bolts and rungs for a cable bridge on St. Paul's Island and while the bridge has since disappeared, they remain in the rocks today.

Duncan's son, Angie, worked with his father for many years. He made shoes and shod race horses in later years. After his father's death in 1932, Angie carried on the blacksmith shop until 1945 when he moved away to Seattle, Washington.

The rate for shoeing horses for many years was fifty cents.

Nellie MacLeod of Middle Harbour, Willie P. Fitzgerald of Smelt Brook and Joe MacNeil of Bay St. Lawrence also operated forges near their homes. They were all involved in horseshoeing and iron work.

Tingley MacEvoy had a forge near his home in Gray's Hollow. He did mostly iron work as well as his own horseshoeing. Much of the ironwork he did for his own use in making wheelbarrows and for use around his farm.

Ronald MacIsaac of Sugar Loaf had a forge on the north side of the road near Dan Cameron’s. This forge was in operation from the 1890s through to the early 1900s. Ronald died in 1909 and had done horseshoeing and ironwork for people in the area. Around 1914, his brother Allen ran a forge near Red Pond and carried on the horseshoeing and iron work. This building was later hauled up to the corner of John A. MacIsaac’s field where it still stands today. In later years, Ronald’s son, Alex, had a forge near the road on his own property. After Alex was unable to carry on, his son Donald did some horseshoeing. At present, there are very few horses in the area.

This history of forges and blacksmiths in North Highland communities was provided by the North Highlands Community Museum & Archives.

© 2009 North Highlands Community Museum & Archives