Instructors, GTHS School of Blacksmithing

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Jamie Gier is the Goshen Twp. Historical Society's resident blacksmith and the founder of the GTHS School of Blacksmithing. Jamie built our original timber frame shop for blacksmithing demos. Not only is the shop and adjoining livery an excellent 19th century replica, but all the hardware inside and out was forged by Jamie and bears his unique mark. The popularity of the little timber frame shop and Jamie's connections led to the ambitious plan to create our npw-thriving School of Blackmithing in a former barnat our Cook Log Cabin Heritage Center. Jamie still offers his expertise, but now also manages our course schedule, continuous improvements to the school's equipment and environment, and creating tools and gifts for sale to support GTHS events.

In 2020, Jamie was honored with the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce Salute to Leaders Award. 

Under Jamie's management, the GTHS School of Blacksmithing attracts top instructors and students from across the US - and beyond.

Contact Jamie at jamie@evansfuneralhome.com

 Christ Centered Ironworks is owned and operated by artist blacksmith Roy Adams in Harrisville, Michigan. Roy has been forging since 2008. The business was formally opened in 2012 in Dayton, Ohio, after Roy was in a car accident that ended his full-time career in HVAC. As he recovered from his accident, he turned to his skills in blacksmithing to support his family. Roy said, “I was able to work at my own pace, and have the fulfillment I desired from working with my hands.” In 2019, Christ Centered Ironworks moved to northern Michigan. 

 Roy says, “I believe that God has gifted me to work with my hands, and I want to return the glory to Him”. Christ Centered Ironworks'  mission is to educate people about blacksmithing and to treat people in a manner that Jesus would find pleasing. The company is a product of Roy's two passions- Jesus Christ and blacksmithing, and combining them in a relevant business approach.  

Learn more at

www.christcenteredironworks.com/

Frank House is one of the leading Artists of the Longrifle Culture. Born December 16, 1959, Frank grew up watching his older brother Hershel create amazing pieces of art.  Starting as early as 1975, Frank began making knives and turnings on the wood lathe. In 1988, Frank took the step to dedicate himself full time to the Art of the American Frontier and, along with his wife Lally, herself an internationally renown artist, spends his time creating.     

Click here to learn more about Frank and Lally, and see some of their amazing creations. A quick Google search will lead you to numerous articles, including their expansive work with Hollywood, significant artworks, restorations, podcasts, and other interesting tidbits.

Check out this interesting podcast "A Conversation with Frank House" from our friends at ILoveMuzzleLoading.com.

Virginia native Elmer Roush has been a blacksmith since 1975, and has devoted himself to the art full-time since 1985. Previous careers included fifteen years spent working in a coalmine in southwest Virginia, but Roush concluded that he would “rather burn coal than mine it.” Roush learned his smithing skills in Virginia, and spent time studying with master blacksmith Vaslav Jaros in the Czech Republic. Now a master smith himself, he has traveled the world teaching. He is a past artist-resident at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  Roush’s work is extremely varied. He makes railings,  old-fashioned sign brackets, architectural hardware (exact reproductions and creative variants of antique joints, brackets, nails, etc.), and deconstruction tools use dismantle old buildings without damaging the wood. He makes liturgical pieces, including altars and candleholders, as well as a wide variety of tools based on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century models, exact replicas, as well as creative pieces.  Finally, in a highly localized trade, Roush creates basketmakers’ tools, including froes, spoke weights, and rapping irons, which are used by local basketmakers.  Elmer Roush’s work is available through Metcalfe-Roush Forge in Brasstown, NC.

Contact info: (828) 835-7313 email@metcalferoush.com

 Best known for his wonderful hand made knives, tomahawks, and accoutrements, Joe Seabolt of Goshen, Ohio, has been blacksmithing for over 25 years. He began his blacksmithing and knife making career at Historic Manskers station in Goodlettsville, Tennessee where he worked at the forge under the guidance of Steve Marshall. He later became a frequent attendee at many  classes offered by Kentucky's famous House Brothers; coming "full circle", he often joins the House Brothers as a guest instructor at their knife making classes in Woodbury, KY and at Canter's Cave.

Joe has been immersed in the culture of 18th century trekking and reenacting for most of his adult life and is a frequent demonstrator at events and historic sites. He is a life member of the National Rifle Association and has qualified for several of their instructor certifications. He is a member of the N.M.L.R.A., the  C.L.A. and the American Bladesmith Society. Joe's work is highly sought by reenactors, outdoorsmen, and collectors.

Contact Joe at  jseabolt665@gmail.com 

Butch Sheely began bladesmithing and blacksmithing in 1982, after becoming involved in historical re-enacting. For the next twenty plus years he forged knives, tomahawks and various other items, primarily for re-enactors. Sixteen years ago, he began bladesmithing and blacksmithing full time. 

Butch takes great pride in forging, grinding, and heat treating the highest quality knives and tomahawks, as well as creating hand-sewn leather sheaths.

Butch joined the American Bladesmith Society in 2005, after attending a number of ABS hammer-ins in Michigan and Ohio. He was received his ABS Journeyman rating in 2009 and continues to work towards achieving his Master Smith rating.

Most of Butch’s working knives are forged from 5160, but he also uses 1084, 1095, W2 and 52100. The majority of the Damascus he makes is 1084 and 15N20. Butch uses only natural materials for handles, including wood, stag, antler, horn, and bone. He believes the appearance and feel of natural materials best fit the style of knives he creates.

Butch has demonstrated at a number of American Bladesmith Society, Inc. “Hammer-Ins,” as well as at the Alabama Forge Council, the Batson Blade Symposium, and The Southern Ohio Forge & Anvil Blacksmith Quad State. He received the Antique Bowie Knife Association’s award for "The Best Bowie" displayed by a Journeyman smith at the Blade Shows in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2021. He won the "Best Historically-Inspired Knife" at the 2015 Arkansas Custom Knife Show and the "Best Period Piece" in 2008 and 2010 at the Ohio Classic Knife Show.

Butch Sheely is a member of Northwest Ohio Blacksmiths, American Bladesmith Society, Inc.,  Contemporary Long Rifle Association, Alabama Forge Council, and Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil.

Contact info:  (419) 308-3471

sheelyblades@gmail.com

Learn more at www.sheelyblades.com

 Artist, blacksmith, and teacher from Brazil.