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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!

October 28 and 29, 2006

“Smithing in Texas”
at
Barrington Living History Farm


On October 28 and 29, Barrington Living History Farm is inviting HABA members to the farm for a weekend of forging. Last year the farm asked HABA to consider building a steel harrow the team of oxen can pull to till the garden. In the past, several HABA members showed up to make or repair whatever was needed. It is always an enjoyable weekend for the members and the public who stop by to see what is being built.

For more information about helping out at Barrington, call Richard Boswell at 281-356-5205 or e-mail him at: rsboswell@sbcglobal.net .

Photos from Sunday are available on our page HABA Smithing in Texas 2006.

“It was here that on March 1, 1836, delegates elected from each municipality in Texas convened in an unfinished frame building. While the forces of General Santa Anna laid siege to the Alamo, the Convention of 1836 declared Texas' independence from Mexico, wrote a new constitution which established the Republic of Texas and organized an interim government.”

These pages review some our activities at the Farm in past years....


The Plan
HABA members from the region are invited to bring their forges, tools and stock to Barrington Farm on the weekend of October 28 and 29, 2006, and work on an item or items of their choice. A list from a previous years project can be viewed and downloaded from our page Barrington '04 . A few of these projects lend themselves to working in teams.....like making chain, the standing crane, or the fire pit cranes.

The list above is not exclusive so additional items are welcome. Differences in design other than those shown in the pictures below are welcome. Duplication of pieces are welcome. And, the expectation is not to complete the wish list in one weekend. Hopefully there is enough on the list to give every skill level a bit of a challenge.

Our request list for this year includes:

  • Forged nails and hooks for hanging tools and stuff on the walls
  • Flat and or rounded chisel for wood working
  • Barking Iron for removing bark from tree limbs
  • Handle for the gate latch rod (yes they got our hinges installed on new gate)
  • Claw hammer
  • Primitive farm forge to use with bellows
Mark Sanders sent a description of the bark spud and said they need this to prepare a shipment of logs for a bridge they will be building this year. Click BF List to download the pdf file. There are several sources of info on the web and a few are listed here.

"Bark peeling was a task requiring the use of special tools, known as peelers or barking irons, which were forged by a blacksmith. Men used a rod made from a solid piece of iron which terminated in a flattened blade. It was around two feet in length and was used for stripping bark from the trunks of trees. Women used a smaller and lighter tool with a wooden handle and iron blade around one foot in length. It was used to remove bark from saplings and branches." from Woodland Industries in the Wyre Forest


The Public
The public is invited to this event and a large turnout is expected. Since this is a work weekend, forge welding and heavy forging is required. This means special precautions will need to be taken to make sure no member of the public is in harms way while this work is being done. One solution is to rope off a large area, keep the public well away from heavy forging and forge welding and use dedicated interpreters to describe to the public what is being done.

Insurance Issues
Only HABA members in good standing will be allowed to handle tools at this event. This means only HABA members may forge or work as forge helpers. Personal sales to the public are not permitted.

Safety Issues
All people working in the forging area are required to wear safety glasses with side shields. No Forge Welding is permitted except in an approved area. This means that a piece started in a non-welding area that requires a forge weld will need to be taken to the welding area for completion.

Park Camping
Washington on the Brazos State Park has no camping facilities of any kind. However an exception will be made for tent camping and RV parking for this event. Tent camping and RV parking will be made available in and around the Barrington Farm Parking lot.

NOTE: Tents and RV’s may be set up only after the park closes and the tent and RV setups need to be removed before the park opens. Open flames of any kind are not permitted at camp sites.

Area Lodging
The following motels are available in the area:
  • Best Western - 936-870-4100
  • Super 8 - 936-825-7775
  • Cedar Creek - 936-825-8000
  • Vanguard Motel - 936-825-6497

Questions and Comments
Period clothing is desired but not required. Please direct any questions or comments to Richard Boswell at 281-356-5205 or e-mail him at: rsboswell@sbcglobal.net .

Family, Friends, Relatives and In-laws
Washington on the Brazos is the birthplace of the Republic of Texas and has a lot to see and do. Here is a summary:

  • 1. Independence Hall and Washington Townsite - New signs and trails

    •    The story of independence and the beginning of the Texas nation
       New trails and exhibits
       Unique living history programs
  • 2. Visitor Services Complex - New
       Visitor Center, with new interactive exhibits, park headquarters, and a gift shop
       Conference Center, featuring a full-service restaurant and a group meeting facility
       Education Center, with classroom space
  • 3. Star of the Republic Museum - All new exhibits. For more information call 936/878-2214.
       The museum houses a collection of more than 20,000 artifacts and depicts the colorful saga of the Republic period through modern exhibits, audio-visual presentations, and education programs
       1,000 square foot Discovery Room providing interactive displays, involving the visitors through multi-sensory elements and activities
       Seasonal exhibitions, special events, and interpretive demonstrations illustrating early 19th century life regularly scheduled
    Research library consisting of over 3,000 volumes, journals, and magazines
  • 4. Barrington Living History Farm - Recreated 19th Century Farm.
       The home of Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas
       A working farm of the 1850s with costumed staff and period livestock
       Seasonal special events focusing on farm life

How to Get There
Via the web: Barrington Farm and Map

Via the Road:
From DFW/Waco take I-35 to Highway 6 South. Come down Highway 6 South to Navasota. From Navasota take Highway 105 West 7 miles and turn left on FM 1155 to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

From Houston take Highway 290 West to Highway 6 at Hempstead. Take Highway 6 North to Navasota. From Navasota, take Highway 105 West 7 miles and turn left on FM 1155 to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

From San Antonio go I-10 East to Highway 77 North, then take 290 East to Brenham. From Brenham, take Highway 105 East 14 miles and turn right on FM 912 to Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site.

When & Where :

Saturday & Sunday, October 28-29 :

The schedule looks like this for Saturday and Sunday (Remember Daylight Savings Time Change Back!):

  • 8:00 am : Sign in and setup
  • 8:30 am : HABA Meeting and Announcements
  • 9:00 am : Begin work
  • 6 pm : Conclude


Where :

Barrington Living History Farm at Washington on the Brazos State Park

What to Bring

Bring safety glasses with side shields. This is a requirement!

Bring a chair to sit in.

Period clothing is desired and a lot of fun but not required.

HABA Members are invited to bring their forges and tools.

You do not have to be a member to attend our meetings! Bring a Guest!

Bring your Membership Dues if you want to work at a forge and are not a current Member !

Minors are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.



Notes about this Website

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

The use any of the material from this site is at your own risk. All persons associated with this material disclaim any responsibility or liability for damages or injuries resulting from the use or application of this information. They assume no responsibility or liability for the accuracy, fitness, proper design, safety or safe use of any information presented here.

Please send all feedback/correction/omission/suggestions to your webmaster, Richard Boswell .
Enjoy!

http://www.habairon.org
http://www.habairon.com
Last updates were on October 21, 2006

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