The Foard Blacksmith Shop
Forging a Legacy
(1883-1981)
The Foard Blacksmith Shop was a cornerstone of community life for nearly a century, operating from 1883 until 1981. Built by Edson and Emma Foard, the shop quickly became a gathering place and essential service hub at Hopewell Crossroads—today known as Level.
Its location at a rural crossroads reflected a classic element of American town planning, where a blacksmith’s forge was central to daily life. After Edson’s passing in 1909, his sons, William and Charles, carried on the family trade. For almost 100 years, the Foards shoed horses, repaired tools, and kept the necessities of farm and home in working order—sustaining both neighbors and the local economy.
A Historic Vote
(1892–1958)
From 1892 to 1958, the shop’s back room served as a polling location for local elections.
One particularly historic moment came in 1920, when Mrs. Anna May Bradfield cast her ballot in the presidential election—the first national election in which women could vote—making her the first woman to vote in a presidential election in Level, Maryland.
Crafting the Future
(1892–1958)
Even in its final years, the shop remained an active part of the community. Mr. Foard continued his work—shoeing horses and repairing broken items, until his passing in 1981.
In 1983, the Foard family donated the shop to Steppingstone Museum. The building was carefully moved from its original site on Rock Run Road, near the Level Volunteer Fire Company, and reassembled at the museum.
2018 Restoration
On March 20, 2017, the building sustained damage when one of the forge chimneys collapsed. The museum was unable to open this popular exhibit until the chimney and roof were repaired.
Thanks to donations and a grant from Preservation Maryland, Steppingstone fully restored the chimney, with work completed in 2018. Today, visitors can once again enjoy live blacksmith demonstrations in the historic shop.
Today, it stands preserved as a working blacksmith demonstration area, keeping the craft alive for new generations.
Today, the historic Foard Blacksmith Shop continues to ring with the sound of hammer and anvil.
We train and support volunteer blacksmiths who help keep this traditional trade alive for visitors to experience.
Interested in learning the craft? Join us as a volunteer blacksmith and be part of preserving history in action!
Step into the shop
The Land of Promise History
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