Another successful Hammer-In Festival held in Lacombe

This year’s Hammer-In Festival at the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop proved a hit with the community.

The Lacombe and District Historical Society hosted the annual event at the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum, which was held on Aug. 26 and saw 13 blacksmiths take part via seven forges.

Highlights included tours of Alberta’s oldest blacksmith shop, a community barbecue, and several up-close demonstrations of the art of blacksmithing.

A big part of this year’s event included the creation of iron flowers in memory of Roger Selvais, the last blacksmith who owned the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop, which was eventually purchased by the Lacombe Historical Society.

Selvais passed away this past June, so in his memory, the blacksmiths who gathered this year decided to make iron flowers for his family.

“His vision of seeing it become a museum is the reason that we have this wonderful piece of history in Lacombe,” said Henrietta Verwey, who owns Iron Sunset Forge and Design near Lacombe.

“In memory of him and everything he has done for our community, we decided to make iron flowers for his family in member of him,” she said. “Some of the family members were in today, and they were able to see how much his vision has expanded, too.”

Verwey, who spearheaded the Hammer-In concept back in 2015, said this year’s event was superb.

“We’ve had a beautiful turn-out today, with the community coming out to support us and seeing what we are doing.

“The Lacombe Museum has been expanding it every year, and has been just wonderful with it.”

Colin Omilusik and Micki Bennett, who both work at Calgary’s Heritage Park, showcased their skills during the annual Hammer-In Festival held at the Blacksmith Shop Museum on Aug. 26. (Photos by Mark Weber/Black Press News Media)

Local blacksmith Henrietta Verwey provided demonstrations of her fascinating trade during the Hammer-In Festival on Aug. 26. Verwey owns Iron Sunset Forge and Design near Lacombe.