By Bob Baker

Blacksmith shops were a common sight in western frontier towns and were part of the economic fiber of these early communities. Blacksmiths would use the metal from broken or worn-out metal tools, hinges, horseshoes and wagon parts as source metal for new pieces, saving on the cost of new metals. They were the only ready source of horseshoes, nails, and metal items for wagons and households. In 1870 there were only two blacksmith shops in Prescott, Arizona Territory. By 1877 that number had risen to eight shops. Blacksmiths were needed to serve horses, horse-drawn vehicles and to fabricate metal fixtures. In the 1870s, they earned from $4.00 to $6.00 a day, equivalent to $117 to $175 in today’s currency.