The ring of metal on metal echoes through the open door. Sparks fly as a blacksmith hammers a glowing piece of iron into shape.
This is the oldest working forge in Virginia, a place where the craft of blacksmithing has been practiced for centuries. You can stand just outside the shop and watch as skilled hands transform raw metal into hooks, hinges, and tools, all without electricity, just muscle and fire.
I spent an hour here, mesmerized by the process, the heat, the precision. The blacksmith answered questions without stopping his work, explaining the techniques that have been passed down through generations…