WILLIAMSBURG-Aislinn Lewis first became interested in blacksmithing back in high school when she started volunteering at George Washington Birthplace National Monument located near her hometown on the Northern Neck.
“I spent a lot of time watching the blacksmith working there,” she said. “I always thought it looked really fun.”
She was encouraged to give it a try and spent two years as a volunteer at the establishment. Lewis went on to join a local blacksmith guild and studied the craft at the American College of Building Arts in Charleston, SC. During her senior year of college, Lewis took an internship with the Historic Trades as a blacksmith for Colonial Williamsburg and never left. Lewis has been with Colonial Williamsburg since 2009 and is now a journeyman blacksmith and the only female currently in the trade.
A blacksmith is defined as a person who makes and repairs items primarily of iron and steel by hand using a hammer. The act is called forging. Lewis forges new pieces or restores items for Colonial Williamsburg and is currently working on objects for the Williamsburg Bray School and First Baptist Church projects. Additionally, she makes pipe tomahawks as well as spits and skewers for The American Indian Experience initiative.
“Tomahawks were a common trade item and used as presentation pieces,” she said. “I find the process of forging itself very enjoyable. I like making things that are useful and nice to look at.”
It can take several hours to forge a piece, depending on what is specifically being created.
“There are a lot if interesting projects that we get involved in here,” she said.
Her most memorable project to date was assisting with the creation of a replica of one of George Washington’s field tents, a project the blacksmith team did a few years ago for the Museum of American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA. Lewis helped forge the metal posts and hardware for the beds in the tent.
“It was a lot of fun to be a part of, and a great experience,” she said.
Lewis currently works with a team of six blacksmiths.
“Everybody a part of this trade is encouraging and welcoming,” she said. “I love the combination of skill sets we have and sharing our expertise.”
Colonial Williamsburg’s blacksmith workshop, located on Duke of Gloucester Street, is one of the most visited sites in the Historic Area. The shop is open seven days a week and offers demonstrations.
“We are always pretty busy in the workshop,” Lewis said. “It’s a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend blacksmithing.”
Women in Trades is a new series dedicated to sharing the stories of the women involved in the trades programs at Colonial Williamsburg.