PAGE 10, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1980, WHITBY FREE PRESS 1 M~I 10f Là A RA Our historical hritage.... Blacksmitlis were the pioneers of the automotive idustry By EUGENE HENRY In earlier times around here the biacksmith was an important mnan in the com- munity and there were blacksmith shops in every hamiet,, village and town in this part of our country. Ris role in society was somewhat similiar to that played by our modern-day gas station manager. He did far more than shoe horses. In this illustration by artist Robert Hyndmnan of Ottawa, there isn't a horse in sight, in this case our man is functioning as a wheelright. He is keeping the wagons and rigs roliing. He - is keeping the agricultural equipment inoving. In the end the blacksmith proved to be the hardy and skillfull bridge between custom made craft based services and the first manufactured goods with in- ter-changeable parts of iron and steel. Most of the good blacksmiths were farmers with a knack for making and using tools. They were brought up around farm animais and became "fixers" from any early age. Clearing and cultivating the land was bard and back- breaking toil for our first settier/farmers and those with land, on well-travelled roads often set up shop in their barns, to serve the transient wagons enroute to destinations like Whitby harbour. The roads were poor and the early, home-made wagons often broke down away from home. The blacksmith provided an im- portant service to our regionai farmers as they headed for the grain elevators at dock side around Whitby-harbour. In the beginning he repaired hand tools like axes, saws, augers and hammers. He made nails and metai points for the first wooden ploughs. The mùost important piece of equipem- tn in bis shop was t.he forge that allowed him to heat- treat meta1,-bend it and give it new life. The biacksmith made a wedding with the carpenters in the community providing them with smail metal parts like door hinges, wood working tools and the like. They fixes stoves and the early plumbing pipes. It was the boit however that put the biacksmith into business in a bigger way. It was the boit that brought freedom fro the smithy and allowed him to pull away from the horses and their manure. He st.arted to assemble equipment like sleighs, work wagons, reapers and bin- ders. Biacksmiths made the prototypes of neariy every piece of engineered equip- ment of iron and steel. The best example localiy would be the first vehicies made by the McLaughiins in In- niskillen and then Oshawa. The blacksmith shop provided the best show in town for boys of ail ages. The balky horses, the roaring forge, the hissing steam combined to give a lasting memory to ail who iooked upon those wonders of the day. Guild exec for 1980 Whitby Ail Saints Parish Guild (After-noon Branch) met Tuesday, February 12 at 2 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Rev. Jack Roney installed the 1980 executive: Past President, Mrs. Art Conrad; President, Mrs. Jack Toms; lst Vice President, Mrs. Sidney Combdon; 2nd Vice President, Mrs. George Lomax; Treasurer, Mrs. George Levingstone. Tentative plans were made for the Guild's Annual Dessert Bridge to be held Wednesday, April 30 at 1 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The meeting ciosed with prayer. Tea was served by Mrs. Norman Cormack and Mrs. Ernest Harlow. CHOO WIN WORDS win a trip for two to Calgary, Alberta (no substitutions) Lîsten to CHOO Radio 14 DAY and NIGHT for dlues 14 tUnes a day - Monday thru Saturday. Clues broadcast f rom February 22nd - April 5th, 1980 inclusive. Entry deadlîne Mldnlght AprIl 5th, 1980. Draw to be held Aprîl Bih. Compieted solution wIi appear Un this space Aprîl 9th, 1980. N AM E .........................-........... ..PH ONlE .............. A DDRESS....................................................... Additionai copies are availabie ai 0H00 Radio, 97 MoMaster Avenue, Ajax, LIS 2E6. Tel. 683-4131. MAIL YOUR COMPLETED ENTRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ABOVE ADDRESS. i Here And Now For Men, Womén & Young Adults co'mplete Skin & Hair Care For A More Youthful You!' Ivans Hairstyfing in a.çsotîmtu)n with L de Mar Skin Care Clinie 1440M DUNDAS ST E WHITBJY 668-4321 îw- mu -1 à 'l ,À