The Boothbay Railway Village invites guests to meet Master Blacksmith Sam Smith of the Portland Forge during this year’s Fall Foliage Festival.

Sam’s first introduction to the craft was at Allaire State Park in New Jersey, site of the Pine Creek Railroad and a living history museum called Allaire Village. Soon after, he began his profession at age fourteen when he entered the Howell Works Blacksmith’s Guild as an apprentice. Sam learned under several Masters working his way through the ranks of the guild. At the age of twenty he obtained the rank of master and oversaw the Guild’s 1830’s era blacksmith shop.

In 2003, Sam moved to Maine and constructed his first shop, Valley Forge, along the Penobscot River. Later Sam seized the opportunity to lease the original forge (circa 1846) on the site of the historic Portland Company complex where more than 600 locomotives had been manufactured. As it stands today, he runs the only traditional blacksmith shop working full time in the entire state of Maine, the oldest forge in the state, and the largest brick forge in the country.

Some of the items Sam is making onsite will be available for purchase throughout the weekend. The Museum’s Blacksmith Shop is across from the goat pen beyond the Village Green. Be sure to take the opportunity to step beyond the event field, after all the entire Museum is free to explore with your paid admission to the Fall Foliage Festival.