Kidd Blacksmith Shop - Utica, Illinois - Blacksmith Shops on Waymarking.com

William Curtin built this blacksmith shop in 1892 in downtown Utica, Illinois. The last blacksmith, John Kidd, ran the shop for nearly 30 years - from 1941 to 1969.

The LaSalle County Historical Society purchased the blacksmith shop from John Kidd's widow in 1972.

Visitors can explore the building during regular museum hours:
Wednesday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


Saturday & Sunday: 12 to 4 p.m.
Winter hours (December through March)
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m.


The forge is not always operating, but discovering all the unique tools is just as interesting.

The interpretive sign reads:

BLACKSMITH SHOP
107 North Clark Street

Was orginally the 1888 location of a wooden frame building housing a carpentry shop. By 1896 a stone blacksmith shop had replaced that structure

It appears that William Curtain and then James Russell were owners and active blacksmiths from 1896 to 1910. Luther Acoff worked as a blacksmith here from 1908 to 1940. Then the shop lanquished until John Kidd operated it from 1941 to 1969.

In 1971 the LaSalle County Historical Society purchaces the property with funds donated by the Thornton Family Foundation. From 1971 to 1990 Society members Constance Fetzer, Nathan Fleming, Wayne Hess, Barbara Marks, Duane Munson, Frank Stevens, and Dale Stockley led efforts toward rehabilitation and untilization of the structure.

The building was fully restored for use as a working blacksmith shop by the Blacksmith Shop Restortation Committee, Edmund B. Thornton, Chairman during the years 1990 and 1991.

Operating Status: Re-creation / Educational Web Address: [Web Link] Address: 107 North Canal Street Utica, IL USA 61373

Visit Instructions:
To post a visit the Blacksmith Shop's category, you must have a photograph and description of your visit.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.