Field Day of the Past

 Saturday, September 20, 2008


Jackson Blacksmith Booth at Field Day

For over 10 years, I have helped with the booth the Jackson Blacksmith Shop (JBS) operates at Field Day of the Past.  This is probably the largest event in the area devoted to celebrating history and bringing it to life by showing how things used to be.  Held on a really big field in Goochland County, Virginia each fall, Field Day offers activity after activity of yester-year and seems to have on display every item you could think of that’s old.  And Field Day is much more. 

So my Mom and I got there about 7:30 this morning and set up our tent and display board to share the history of the Jackson Blacksmith Shop with any of the tens of thousands of people attending this three day event.  

One visitor to our booth, Linwood Slayden, age 82, remembers the Jackson Blacksmith Shop from his youth.  Though he now resides in Glen Allen, Va., he used to live in the vicinity of the JBS and attended Ragland Memorial Church, which is a very short distance from the present day shop.  He stopped by the booth just to say hello and to recollect old times.  While many of the visitors to our booth are not familiar with the Jackson Blacksmith Shop or may not know about blacksmithing, many others, like Mr. Slayden, are familiar with the JBS and blacksmithing, and they are eager to share their stories.  

For more information on the Jackson Blacksmith Shop, click here.

  
Lynwood Slayden

 

 

 


"Carving Roosters & Chicks from Twigs & Branches"  

When my shift at the JBS booth was over, I proceeded to check out other things at FIeld Day.  So off I went, with camera in hand. 

The booth next to ours was that of the Richmond Carvers Club, whose members were busy shaping things from wood.  One of those members, Calvin Winfree, Sr., had what I thought was a pile of switches, not the kind used to turn things on and off,  but the kind that come from trees, the kind that used to be used to welt out punishment when kids act up. 

 

I asked Calvin what was he going to do with those switches since most carvings I’ve seen come from wood that’s usually a bit larger?

 

So he showed me.  With what looks like a regular pocket knife, Calvin appeared to be just whittling away on a freshly cut twig and branch.  But he wasn't just whittling, he was making art. 

 

Before long, a rooster would emerge; hence, Mr. Winfree's slogan: "Carving Roosters & Chicks from Twigs & Branches"

Calvin Winfree, Sr.

 

 

 

The finished work of Calvin Winfree's carvings.  The rooster to the left is resting on a pedestal that's not much larger than a U.S. quarter.  The one on the right is about 2 to 3 times larger.  Each was made from twigs and branches.