OCTOBER:

"I have changed the date of the AGM in October (it conflicted with Thanksgiving) to the third Saturday in the month which is the sixteenth. - Mick Smith "

Grey Roots Museum & Archives - 102599 Grey Road 18 - Owen Sound.
September 18 at 10am.

"This is the third Saturday in the month. This will be a Hammer In so please bring your portables if you can. If you plan to attend please phone me (Mick Smith 519 843 6655) with how many people will be in your party as the Museum will be providing lunch. Iíve included below an early version of the notice from the Grey Roots folks. - Mick Smith"

Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association (OABA) to hold ìHammer Inî at Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Saturday, September 18, 2010
Time of event: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Check-in: 9:00 am ‚ 9:45 am.
The Moreston Village gates (south and north entrances) will be open until 9:45 am for members to come in with their trucks and forges.
Set-up: OABA blacksmiths set up their portable forges around one of our two blacksmith shops ‚ either the log Pioneer Blacksmith Shop or the 1920s George Rice Blacksmith Shop. Members arrive and have their forges set up and their vehicles parked before we open to the public at 10:00 am. (Please note: For safety reasons as well as to preserve the authenticity of the Village we cannot have modern vehicles operating in the Village once the doors are open to the public).
Parking: OABA Members may park their vehicles in the area south of the Grey Roots Museum & Archives. Vehicles may enter the Village again after 4:00 pm to load up forges and depart. Admission: Demonstrating Blacksmiths and their families receive complimentary admission. We ask that OABA provides us a list of participants and their guests.
Lunch: Demonstrating Blacksmiths will also receive a delicious lunch and refreshments.
Our Heritage Village attracts many visitors ‚ both local and out of country. This will be the first time Grey Roots has hosted such an amazing spectacle and as such we are positive that it will be well attended. The event will be good for Grey Roots and good for the OABA in that it will raise the awareness of your organization and the art of blacksmithing to the public. We would advertise the event through our website, our quarterly newsletter Grey Matter, e-updates, posters, radio and Rogers TV interviews. We would ask OABA to share your Logo to enhance the advertising opportunities.
("As an aside, the organizer, Petal, mentioned verbally to us that she encourages us to bring anything weíd like to sell if weíd like to. - David Brandow")

Informal hammer-in
Russell, Ontario
September 11,12, 2010
Once again, we would like to invite OABA members to join us for an
informal hammer-in Saturday Sept 11th and Sunday September 12th at the
Russell Fair. We've had good participation from eastern Ontario smiths
these past four years but always have room for new faces. The fair is
located in Russell Ontario (directions are available on the web site at
http://www.russellfair.com/directions/index.htm)
Fair passes and lunch will be provided for all participating smiths.
Setup is at 9am each day. We will have an "open" forge station setup so
if you want to drop by, but don't have equipment, we'll do our best to
accomodate you.
If you are interested in joining us for any part of the weekend please
respond to scott@createcode.com. Look forward to seeing everyone.

The 29-30th of May 2010 Ontario-Quebec meeting in Cumberland was a
tremendous success.
More than 25 blacksmiths showed up during the 2 day event, some accompanied
by friends.
Many gave demonstrations. Thanks to all of them.
A total of 16 guests attended the presentation of the Parliament Library
iron work given by Lloyd Johnston (A thank you note was forwarded to him,
copy attached for your information. Feel free to publish it if you like).
I understand I am not a regular (although honorary) member of OABA, but it
would be nice if you would agree to post these pictures on your web site for
all Ontarion blacksmiths to see.
I would like to extend a special thank to Robert Vaughan and Henrietta
Verwey who were incredible hosts. They went out of their way and did
everything to make these 2 days a very pleasant and successful event.

Jacques E Decarie

the Viking Age comes to LIFE on June 12!
The Dark Ages Recreation Company (DARC) is inviting those interested in history to come visit us as we illustrate daily life during the Viking Age.
Place : The Wareham Forge *
Date: Saturday June 12
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
This 'limited public' one day event is part of our preparation for our full scale presentation for Parks Canada at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC in August (from the 16th to the 25th). There will be a tight focus on the historical prototypes from Iceland and Greenland, working to represent 'Leif's Houses' in Vinland, circa 1000 AD.

A truly unique feature of this presentation will be the operation of a Norse type iron smelting furnace, a process which will be ongoing over the day. This is a duplication of the sequence thought to be undertaken by the Norse at Vinland, as represented by the archaeology of L'Anse aux Meadows.

* The Civic Address is : 307377 Centre Line A, Grey Highlands, ON N0C 1L0 (for those using MapQuest ) A simple map is available at : www.warehamforge.ca/directions/shopmap.gif)
- Visitors are asked to remain in modern street clothes.
- Parking is only along the roadside (using Sideroad 40, north of the Wareham corner is recommended)
- This is a daylight hours event only. Sorry, camping space available is limited to participating members of DARC.

For More Information, turn to our extensive web sites:
The DARC Web Site - www.darkcompany.ca
Experimental Iron Smelting - www.warehamforge.ca/ironsmelting
Interested in Discussing Details?
Darrell Markewitz (the Wareham Forge)
dark@warehamforge.ca

Regular June Meeting - DATE MOVED to JUNE 26/27

at the Ameliasburg Museum grounds
contact Roger Redner 613 969 8139.

July

OABA booked for Lang Pioneer Village's Antique and Classic Car Show - Sunday, July 11, 2010

contact David Mitchell 705 745 9943 / emitchell9@cogo.ca.

This email follows up our phone conversation to confirm the booking of the Ontario Artist Blacksmith Association at our 14th Annual Antique and Classic Car Show. The details are as follows:

Event: 14th Annual Antique and Classic Car Show
Date: Sunday, July 11, 2010
Time of Event: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Check-in: 9:00 am – 9:45 am. The Village entrance gates near the Milburn House on the west side of the Village will be open until 9:45 am for members to come in with their trucks and forges.
Set-up: OABA blacksmiths set up their portable forges around our Blacksmith Shop at the back of the Village. Members arrive and have their forges set up and their vehicles parked before we open to the public at 10:00 am. (Please note: For safety reasons as well as to preserve the authenticity of the Village we cannot have modern vehicles operating in the Village once the doors are open to the public).
Parking – OABA Members may park their vehicles in the area behind the Ayotte Cabin at the back of the Village. Vehicles may enter the Village again after 4:00 pm to load up forges and depart.
Other Details: Demonstrating Blacksmiths and their families receive complimentary admission. Please let the OABA President or alternate point person know you are here and who your guests are. They will be compiling a list of demonstrators and their guests for us. Demonstrating Blacksmiths will also receive a refreshment ticket for a complimentary light lunch (burger or hot dog, potato chips, drink).

Last year we had 1335 visitors come to the Antique and Classic Car Show so it is a busy day and a chance for lots of exposure of the OABA and the art of blacksmithing to the public. We also will be sure to include the fact that you will be demonstrating at the event in our press releases and advertising. We appreciate you coming to Lang and demonstrating. The OABA blacksmithing demonstrations have great appeal to the visitors and really add to the dynamics of the event.

If you have a newsletter and/or posting on your website that goes out to your membership to promote the opportunity, I would be happy to provide you with our logo to enhance the listing. Let me know if this would be useful.

As it gets closer to the event, I will be in touch again to check in with you and your members.

All the best,


Laurie Siblock
Special Event & Community Liaison
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
T: 705-295-6694
F: 705-295-6644
www.langpioneervillage.ca

AUGUST MEETING - August 14

Henk Boon - Desboro
contact Henk Boon 519 934-3273.

(the following snipped from last year's meeting at Henk's)

( fire# 056576 )
Concession 12 Sideroad 2 directly west of Chatsworth on County Road 40. When County Road 40 goes south to Desboro you go off of it and proceed 4 Km West on Sideroad 2 over Grey County Road 3 and then go north on Concession 12 and it’s the first driveway on your right.
Watch for OABA signs.

November - Saturday November 13

David Brandow
5050 Whitelaw Road - RR #6 Guelph ON
Southwest corner of Highway 24 (sometimes known as 124) and Whitelaw Road just outside of Guelph.
Parking will be available at 5068 Whitelaw Rd.
Google Maps:
View Larger Map

PAST 2010 MEETINGS

January
Saturday January * 16 *
Note date shift!

Bob and Shirley Young - Ancaster

Bob and Shirley Young will host the OABA meeting on January 16th.
" Bob will have his new "David Robertson" air hammer in place and if things go right there is a chance David will be here to do a demonstration. I just checked "Google Maps" and if you enter 285 Brant Rd 22 it actually shows our location - some of the others show McBlain Rd instead of Brant Rd 22.
We are south of Hwy 403 between Hamilton and Brantford. It is easiest to take the "Copetown" cut-off from the 403 and follow the "Grand River Dinner Cruises" signs as the "Boat Farm" is a couple of kilometres past our place.
From the cut-off follow Trinity Rd for approximately 8km even when the name changes to Sawmill Rd at a sharp curve and then Brant Rd 22 is about 2km further - the next road to the right. We are about 1km on the right."

FEBRUARY
Saturday February 13
Waldie's Blacksmith Shop, Milton ON

(Demonstration details to come)

Waldie’s is located at 16 James Street, Milton, Ontario, (905) 875-4156.
www.miltonhistoricalsociety.ca

Directions:
Travel along Hwy. 401 and take the RR-25 exit (exit #320) towards Milton. Turn right onto Hwy. 25 which will eventually turn into Martin St. Turn right onto Mill Street, then Left onto James Street.

March
Saturday March 13

Robb Martin - Thak

Floridale On

Robb will be demonstrating decorative end techniques
You can visit the armour in the "Great Hall"
10% discount on in-stock anvils (one day only)
Books, hammers and coal available

THAK Ironworks, www.thak.ca, telephone 519 669-0721
2282 Floradale Road, in Floradale, ON N0B 1V0
- coming from Guelph take County Rd. 86 to Elmira, straight through Main intersection in Elmira,
turn right onto Floradale Rd. ( at Farm Equipment Dealer )Thak is on your left after abt. 3.7 km
- coming from Kitchener-Waterloo take Hwy 85 North to main intersection in Elmira. Turn left
onto Church St. West, then right onto Floradale Rd. (at Farm Euqipment Dealer).

April

Saturday April 10

Jerry Vicko

35 Cemetery Road - RR 1
Uxbridge ON

On MapQuest

(No further information available)

May

Saturday May 8

Mick Smith
Fergus Ontario
Fergus Forge
View Larger Map (Google)

David Brandow is planning to do a demo of a horse head door pull, including the use of a tap into a predrilled hole so it can be screwed from behind (like, well, a door pull).

**********

We will be hosting an open forge meeting at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum on the weekend of May 29 and 30. This will coincide with the annual Heritage Power Show, a display of antique machinery of all kinds.

We will be operating from 10 to 4 each day.

New this year will be a school education day on Friday May 28. Members would be welcome during this event as well. Please contact me for more information.

Members are invited to bring portable forges as there is ample space. The museum forge, equipped with a Canadian Giant power hammer will also be open for use.

Lunch will be served so I would appreciate an RSVP to make sure there is enough food for all.

The museum is located at 2940 Old Montreal Road, Ottawa

http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/heritage/museums/cumberland/index_en.html

For more information, or to RSVP please contact Robert Vaughan

blacksmith@ncf.ca 613-730-1721

Just In
Members of the ConfrÈrie des Forgerons du QuÈbec will be making the trip to Cumberland.
Come out and take this chance to weld up some connections with our fellow blacksmiths from Quebec!

Safety Glasses are Mandatory whenever you are in the demonstration area.

NO EXCEPTIONS