Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Sexsmith Blacksmith Shop fonds |
| Reference code: | 0186 |
| Date: | 1920-1974 (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 7 cm textual records
26 cards |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Initial donation processed by Mary Nutting, June 2005. Exported from AoR and added to AtoM in June 2024, JL |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
After the subdivision of the Benville Town site (later renamed Sexsmith) in 1916, one of the first commercial buildings to appear was the blacksmith shop. It was constructed and first operated by Dave Bozarth, who lived in the back with his family until 1920. He operated a livery barn and Massey-Harris agency as well. In 1920, the Bozarths took in a young boarder named Nels Johnson, who had learned the blacksmith trade in his home country of Sweden. Johnson became the chief blacksmith and in 1927, the owner. He would continue to be the village blacksmith in that same shop until 1974, a period of 54 years.
Nels Johnson was born in Jantland, Sweden in 1890, and immigrated to Canada in 1909. In Canada he smithed for the Grand Trunk Railroad as it was being constructed to Edson, then set up shop in Edson. Here, a common task was shoeing the oxen which were taking settlers in to the Grande Prairie area over the Edson Trail. In 1914, he made his first of many trips over the trail. In 1920 he located permanently in Sexsmith, where he went into partnership with Dave Bozarth, and in 1930 married Charlotte Cook Burns, a widow with three children. Being a “smitty” did not simply consist of sharpening plowshares, shoeing horses and repair work. If a part was not fixable, it had to be r-made by a local blacksmith. Nels also created works of art in his blacksmith shop.
In 1974 the shop was purchased by Wm. Shannon & Sons, who retained the structure and its equipment intact until 1986, when it was acquired by the Town of Sexsmith. By this time, its restoration had taken place under the auspices of the Sexsmith Museum Society, which continues to maintain and interpret it. The Sexsmith Blacksmith shop is the oldest building in the community.
Custodial history
The records were preserved by the Sexsmith Museum and donated to the South Peace Regional Archives in 2004.
Scope and content
The fonds contains records found in the Sexsmith Blacksmith Shop when it was restored in 1986. items include customer records and receipts from the business, templates used in the shop, a few legal documents related to the shop or work done there, and personal records related to Nels Johnson’s family.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on contents of the fonds.
Restrictions on access
There are no restrictions on access.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material (documentary form)
- Business (subject)
Table of contents
0186.01, Legal Documents, 1958-1974
0186.02, Customer Records, 1954-1974
0186.03, Financial Records, 1920-1974
0186.04, Templates and Designs, n.d.
0186.05, Personal Records, 1945-1965
Series descriptions
| Series 0186.01: Legal Documents
Date: 1958-1974 (date of creation) Scope and content: This series contains a small number of legal documents related to the shop including; a 1962 welding license for Nels’ stepson Bryce Burns, a 1958 cattle brand registration for Jerry Stojan, and a 1974 letter regarding the sale of the business. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual records Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0186.02: Customer Records
Date: 1954-1974 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of an alphabetical listing of customers, counter sales books and slips for work done, and shipping tags showing work orders being shipped back to customers throughout the South Peace. Physical description: 0.5 cm of textual materials Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0186.03: Financial Records
Date: 1920-1974 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of a financial ledger from 1920 to 1924; and invoices from 1920 to 1974. Physical description: 1 cm of textual materials Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0186.04: Templates and Designs
Date: n.d. (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of two small booklets containing hand-drawn plans and cardboard templates used in the blacksmith shop. Physical description: 2 cm of textual materials Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |
| Series 0186.05: Personal Records
Date: 1945-1965 (date of creation) Scope and content: The series consists of hospital records for Charlotte Johnson, a 1943-1945 bank book for Art Fenton who ran a Livery Barn and a Dray and Cartage business right next to the Blacksmith Shop in Sexsmith, 26 Christmas Cards from the mid-1960’s, and receipts for donations to charity. Physical description: 2 cm of textual materials Language of the material: English Publication status: Published |