Homes, Trades and Games of Long Ago · Drawing 15 of 40
At the blacksmith’s
Since the days of New France
The blacksmith heats iron in the fire until it turns red and soft. Then he hammers it on the anvil to shape it into a horseshoe.
Look together
What is the blacksmith making?
An idea to try
Your child uses their hands to make a U shape with modelling dough. Talk about what changes shape, then find the blacksmith’s three tools in the drawing.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The blacksmith heats iron until it glows red and is easier to shape, then hammers it on an anvil. Blacksmiths make or repair items such as horseshoes, nails and tools. This trade is distinct from producing iron from ore. At the Forges du Saint-Maurice near Trois-Rivières, an operating concession was granted in 1730. A small forge began operating after a company was founded in 1733. The blast furnace was lit on August 20, 1738. The Forges continued operating until 1883; the site is now a national historic site.
For a child of five to eight, stick to the three visible gestures: heat, hold with the tongs, strike with the hammer. The horseshoe gives an easy shape to recognize. The gestures are evocative, not instructions.
Sources and illustration notes (3)
A fictional blacksmith in an imagined workshop; simplified metalworking actions.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Archéolab.Québec — L’atelier du forgeron (in French)Blacksmithing tools and techniques; heated metal, hammer and anvil.
- Parks Canada — Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of CanadaFounded in 1730, Canada’s first ironworks; closed in 1883.
- Parks Canada — The iron resources of New FranceDistinguishes the royal warrant of 1730, the company of 1733 and the small forge, then the lighting of the blast furnace on August 20, 1738.
Page prepared on September 19, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Life in Old Québec to Colour
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