Blacksmith Shop
The Blacksmith Shop had 13 forges.
The railroad complex needed blacksmiths to forge iron locomotive and rolling stock parts, hinges and other hardware for buildings and also tools and equipment. Some of the forged parts were sent to the Machine Shop for threading and other milling. The western end of the Blacksmith Shop may have served as a foundry for non-iron metals. Bronze bearings and Babbitt bearings were common items that foundry workers made. Each forge had an underground flue to exhaust coal smoke. These flues were connected to a central flue which led to the exterior smokestack.
“…The Company, we believe, do all their work in wood, iron and brass, except iron casting. Their forges are extensive and embrace the only steam forge we have yet seen in Georgia…” —The Weekly Georgia Telegraph, Macon April 26, 1859.
Hourly and Monthly Wages for Blacksmiths
* 1917 - 52.5 cents ($107.10 a month)
* 1920 - 85 cents ($173.40 a month)
* 1921 - 77 cents ($157.08 a month)
* 1922 - 70 cents ($142.80 a month)
In 1911, blacksmiths’ helpers, mostly African-Americans, made 15 cents an hour.
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.