The Clark Blacksmith Shop

Built around 1850 by Arza Clark, who came from a family of blacksmiths, the building was constructed of locally quarried, seam-faced granite. It remained a working shop until 1930 when the entire building was dismantled, piece by numbered piece, and moved to Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA. (The Big “E”)  There, it continues as a smithery, educating the public in the fine art of blacksmithing. Some of the forge’s stones, as well as the nail bench, were also moved to Storrowton. The original bellows were initially used but have since been replaced. Hardware forged in Chesterfield, such as window “shutter dogs” and front door fasteners, are still seen today in the Town Hall and the Asbury Church. 

Memory of Blacksmith Shop

“In the fall of 1929 Laura Green, Mrs. J.J. Atema, and I came to Chesterfield to be the teachers in the local school. On weekends we wandered about town, going thru cemeteries, the local jail*, and the blacksmith shop in a field between Mary Webb’s and Henry Chickerings if my memory is correct. That winter (1930) a team of men came to take it down. They boarded at “The Pillars” where we did. It was interesting to hear how carefully it was being removed, piece by piece and every piece being numbered and recorded.” 

Mrs. Virginia Chickering

22 April 1988

*At that time the local jail was attached to the Town Hall.