Oct 2007 HABA Houston Area Blacksmith's Association

Houston
Area
Blacksmith's
Association

7418 Branch Point
Houston, TX 77095-2649

On Line
Resources

ABANA
ABANA Demonstrator Guideline

North Texas
Blacksmiths Association

Balcones Forge

Louisiana Metalsmiths
Association

Maps

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 27 and 28, 2007

“Smithing in Texas”
at
Barrington Living History Farm

On October 27 and 28, Barrington Living History Farm is inviting HABA members to the farm for a weekend of forging. Several years ago 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 Tee Hines at 281-356-1340 or e-mail him at: bucksnortforge@charter.net .

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

Photos for the 2007 weekend are provided on three pages for your viewing pleasure.....

Photo page 1 : variety Saturday/Sunday
Photo page 2 : variety Show & Tell Saturday/Sunday
Photo page 3 : stuff we made

“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 27 and 28, 2007, and work on an item or items of their choice. As in the past, some projects lend themselves to working in teams.....like making chain, the standing crane, or the fire pit cranes.

Here are some of the items forged last year:

Forged nails and hooks for hanging tools and stuff on the walls
Flat and or rounded chisel for wood working
Boot Scraper
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

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 (and fun) but not required.

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

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 27-28 :

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!