THE GTHS SCHOOL OF BLACKSMITHING

• April 23: Intro to Chasing & Engraving, led by Roy Adams of Christ Centered Ironworks. Participants will make engraving chisels and learn the basics of using them. $175.
• April 29-30: Open Shop Days. The public is welcome to visit, observe, learn a new skill or bring one of your own projects for tips and instruction.
• April 29-30: "Brut de Force" belt knife class, led by Butch Sheely.  Limit 8 spots for this class. The folks who signed up for the  class originally scheduled for March will  get first chance to reserve a spot. Limit 8 posts total. Tuition is $400 and includes all materials, plus lunch both days.
• May 6: Open Shop Day. The public is welcome to visit, observe, learn a new skill or bring one of your own projects for tips and instruction.
• May 19-21: Iron Mounted Butt Plate & Guard Seminar.  Frank House and Joe Seabolt lead this seminar on techniques to forge traditional hardware for a Flintlock rifle. $550.
• June 16-18: Folded & Welded Viking Axe Seminar, led by Elmer Roush and Chris Maybury. Expect to forge 2-3 axe heads based on original artifacts. Participants must be able to successfully forge weld. If you need experience in this welding skill, please attend one of our open shop days for instruction. $475.
• June 24-25: Backwoods Knifemaking, instructors Joe Seabolt & Joe McGee. Traditional methods will be used to create a knife with slab handle. Open to smiths of all experience levels. $375.

September 2023: "Tools to Make Tools," led by Ed Brazeal  and Renan Tavora. Brian,  creator of the "Tools to Make Tools" currciulum, will be joined by our friend from Brazil artist and smith Renan Tavora.  

• September 2 & 3 – Forging Hammer Eye Punches and Hammer Drifts. Participants should  make a pair of each tool.
• September 9 & 10 – Forging Top & Bottom Fullers, Cupping Tool, Hump Back Tools & Hot Cut
• September 16 & 17 – Forging Hammer Eye Tongs & Bolt Tongs We are looking at $400 per weekend, which covers materials and instructors expenses. We will be offering a multi-weekend discount for folks attending 2 or 3 weekend sessions. Ed and Renan were here back in January and they do an outstanding job, instructing in a casual manner. Folks will be working in pairs, alternating between striking and directing.  The tools and techniques learned are applicable to forging a wide variety of other things.

To register contact Jamie Gier at 419.209.2661. Payment can be made directly on our website or if paying by check, make payable to GTHS and mail to 677 Linton Rd. Goshen OH 45122.

Bill Corey is interested in leading a class on "Chest Handles, Hinges, and Hasps," and another "EZ Tongs Class." Stay tuned... Please let Resident Blacksmith Jamie Gier know other areas of study you would be interested to see on our schedule. All of the classes have a limited number of spots available. Please note: if we do not have enough participants to break even (covering instructor and materials costs), the class will be cancelled and registered participants will be issued a full refund.

Class size varies from 6 to 10, depending on  instructor’s preference. Deposit of 50% required to hold your spot. Payment in full is preferred. 

• Payment by check (preferred) made payable to Goshen Twp. Historical Society and mailed to Jamie Gier 6777 Linton Rd. Goshen, OH 45122. 

• Pay by credit card (scroll down to the PayPal button) at www.goshenhistory.org. If you pay by credit card, please select the option to cover the nominal PayPal fee otherwise assessed to the historical society. 

Regardless of your selected payment type, contact Jamie Gier confirm your reserved spot for the class by phone 419.209.2661 or email jamie@evansfuneralhome.com

Known for more than 100 years as the Cook Farm, the Cook Log Cabin Heritage Center features a restored 1803 log cabin, a century old bank barn, a replica 19th century timber frame blacksmith shop and livery, and several other outbuildings. Near the back of the property, in a transformed 1950's barn, is the GTHS School of Blacksmithing. The former Cook Farm now serves as a living history site, depicting farm life from pioneer times through the Great Depression era. This rural setting, dotted with structures from times gone by, adds to the experience of those who come to learn blacksmithing and other metal arts.