Wellington County councillors received an update on the Lynes Blacksmith Shop heritage project on May 25.
Mount Forest Museum and Archives volunteer Kate Rowley acknowledged the contributions of Wellington County Museum and Archives administrator Janice Hindley and activity programmer Libby Walker to the effort to restore the historic blacksmith smith shop in Kenilworth.
“From the start their enthusiasm and expertise has given the project real momentum,” Rowley said.
The blacksmith shop opened in 1885 in a thriving village along Garafraxa Road, now Highway 6. Today it sits much as it did when it was closed in 1955.
Owner Frank Lynes, whose father and grandfather worked in the shop, died in March 2015. His vision was for the building to be donated for historical purposes and the township of Wellington North accepted the donation in March.
“The most extraordinary fact about this project is that it is a gift,” Rowley told council. “It’s like a time capsule. The doors appear to have been closed in 1951 if we were to go by the last calendar on the wall.”
Rowely pointed out, “We’ve been entrusted with this cultural resource. We just have to seize it, dream it and make it happen.”
Rowley explained restoration work and development of a business plan is being carried out by a community volunteer committee, with the help of professional in-kind contributions such as that provided thorough the county.
Eventually, the shop will be the focus of a variety of activities, including tours, souvenir sales, special events and blacksmith classes.
Rowley said organizers are aiming to have the building open for walk-throughs in time for the Wellington North Doors Open event next fall and invited council members to attend.
“This is phenomenal, a piece of history … to find an old building sealed up like this is like a dream,” said councillor Chris White.
