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Houston
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Blacksmith's
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7418 Branch Point
Houston, TX 77095-2649

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To Preserve and Promote the Art and Craft of Blacksmithing Through Education.

Welcome to HABAIRON.ORG, the website of the Houston Area Blacksmith's Association, the Internet resource of choice for the blacksmith in and around Houston, Texas. We have the technology!

November 21, 2005

The Fay School Demo
Dave Koenig
and
Tee Hines



HABA provided demonstrators for the Colonial classes at The Fay School in Houston, TX. Tee Hines and Dave Koenig demonstrated for roughly 40 first graders and 40 second graders and teachers and visitors. The demonstration was to add some realism to month long class immersions in the life and times of pilgrims for the first graders and in the life and times of Williamsburg residents for the second graders.

Fay School Demo Team The classrooms were all decorated and each student adopted the name of an actual person of the respective time periods. The students knew about the craft of blacksmithing before we arrived. What Tee and Dave did was to bring what they learned about our particular to life. Everyone seemed to hang on every word. The learning experience could not have been more enjoyable for the demonstrators and the students alike.

Before leaving the school, Tee and Dave received two booklets with thank you notes and hand drawn pictures from each student....a real treasure! In addition, Tee and Dave received an invitation to demonstrate two weeks later when all the students and parents and visitors and staff will stage a Colonial Market. Tee and Dave are ready to go again!


HABA received an inquiry and request by Paige Wardell and her daughter Gabby for help at her School in Houston. She sent this request:

"My daughter, Gabby, is in the second grade at The Fay School. Gabby's class has transformed their classroom into a Colonial home and town as they are actively studying Colonial Williamsburg. They even have to dress the part for an entire month. Each child has to study a trade and then give a verbal eport on it, accompanied by a visual. Gabby asked to study and report on blacksmithing (whom, she has already learned, was also the town dentist in Colonial times). Gabby's report is due on November 22nd, the day of her class Thanksgiving Feast. I was hoping that you might know if any of your members would be interested in speaking to her class about the history and art of blacksmithing? We are doing lots of research on the trade but felt that it would be much more valuable to her class to hear from someone who practices the trade who could impart their knowledge on such an historical art form."

And followed up with this:

"We have been all over your website gathering historical information. I love the mentoring you guys do and also the welcoming attitude to any and all people w/experience in blacksmithing or not. She is very excited about this project and the prospect of having someone come and speak to her class. She even asked our family dentist for any historical information he might have-he did not. The kids even have to assume colonial names-for 1 month she is "Lucy Williams". We have also been discussing whether or not there were female blacksmiths during the Colonial times-I say no but she swears there was one woman. I am researching that as well and curious how many female blacksmiths exist today."

Dave Koenig was able to respond and Tee Hines wanted to go also. They took their forges and Show and Tell items, and demoed all morning long to the first and second grade classes.

This is an excellent example of how HABA fulfills its Educational Mission and we pleased to know it turned out so well!
These are some of the Thank You notes written by the students. Click to enlarge....

Ben Caroline
Omar Sophie

These are some photos the school took for their story books....Click to enlarge.

Gabby's Presentation Story of Smithing
Dave Gabby and Tee Dave in Classroom


Here are some photos that Dave took. Click to enlarge....


A Young Smith

First Graders

Second Graders

Table Setup

Tee Students Anvil

Tee w class 2

Tee w class

Three Students

Notes about this Website

This website is Under Development and will continue to evolve for HABA Members.

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Enjoy!

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Last updates were on December 12, 2005

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