Sloatsburg+Blacksmith+Shop

In 1895 George Waldron opened the George Waldron Blacksmith Wheelwright and Carriage Shop. He was originally doing business out of his garage but because of demand he opened his shop at what we now know as the Sloatsburg Municipal Building. The Blacksmith shop was important to Sloatsburg because it brought in business. Many people of that time needed repairs to their horse drawn wagons and shoes for their horses. George Waldron was also involved in his community. He was part of the original Sloatsburg Fire Department which was created in November, 1923. Blacksmiths played an important role in their times because they were a skilled trade. Blacksmiths used a variety of tools such as anvils which are big iron and steel blocks. Tongs are used to hold the burning metal. A forge is the blacksmith’s fireplace which was used to burn the metal to make it into shapes. Blacksmiths used hammers which usually had one face and a peen. All the tools I’ve just named were used to create horseshoes and parts of carriages. Carriages were the main means of transportation for that era and someone had to service them. The Blacksmith Shop was in business for about 47 years. It went out of business in 1938, due to the automobile and the lack of demand for his service. The land that George Waldron used for his shop was owned by the Erie Railroad and was sold to the Village in 1941 for $2,500. In 1962, a village hall was constructed there and in 1999 the hall was enlarged and remodeled.