VOICES from the PAST
Educational Programs from the Wareham Forge
Blacksmith Darrell Markewitz has been working metal for over 25 years, starting while a student at Ontario College of Art. Like most smiths of his generation, he is largely self taught. His keen interest in history is combined with traditional skills. These facets were best combined during his five years as an interpreter at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto, three of which were spent as primary blacksmith for this 1860's historic site. Exceptional abilities as a demonstrator were required, as hundreds of thousands of people visit Black Creek annually. A large part of each working day was involved with educational programming, ranging from group tours to hands-on sessions.
The culture and history of the early Middle Ages has long been an area of personal study. Darrell has been involved in historic recreation of the Medieval period as a hobby since the mid 1970's. During this time he has been involved in a large number of in-school programs. He was an instructor for the Toronto Board of Education's 'Saturday Morning' program. His class, "When Knighthood was in Flower" ran three times a year for over seven years, making it one of the the most successful offerings in the program's history.
An area of special concentration has been research into the Norse. This has
culminated in the production of a series of historic displays, based on the
Norse colonization of North America. The Norse Encampment was a major
attraction at the 1993 and '94 Orangeville Medieval Festival. The mounting of
these presentations required extensive historical research, production of approximately
200 reproduction artifacts, and the design of a complete interpretive program.
In 1996, Parks Canada sponsored a two week long presentation of the Encampment
at L' Anse aux Meadows HNS in Newfoundland. This demonstration was such a success
that they commissioned the creation of a new living history for regular seasonal
use at the site. The Viking Encampment
designed, produced and had its staff trained by Darrell, drawing on all his
past interests and experience. The program opened in June of 1997, and continues
as a regular feature of this World Heritage Site.
Currently Darrell lives in the farm country of central Ontario's Grey county,
just outside of Dundalk. He operates a historic reproduction shop called the
Wareham Forge. Past work is on display in the Museum of Civilization in Hull,
the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and is in daily use at many historic sites
in the province. Several times a year he offers training programs at the shop
on various aspects of metalworking. The following educational programs are offered
for use in Ontario elementary and secondary schools:
Information last revised June 2010
the Art and Mystery of the Blacksmith
This program is centred around the work and social position
of the Blacksmith in rural Upper Canada during the 1860's. Subjects covered
include tools, working iron, items produced, relation of the smith to
his community, etc. Physical demonstration is provided with the use of
traditional equipment, a coal fired portable forge with hand crank blower
circa 1870. Darrell acts the part, with costume and persona portraying
this period. Demonstration becomes Education, as technique is blended
to artifact which leads to social history. Questions from the student
audience are encouraged, which in turn directs the flow of conversation.
Physical demonstration will make up 60% of the time.
Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of
water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - all ages, suggest smaller groups on a rotation
Fee - 1/2 day : $200 - full day : $ 300 *
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Darrell Markewitz of the Wareham Forge also provides physical demonstrations of Blacksmithing, with a historical perspective - available for your Festival or special event.
An Introduction to Blacksmithing
This program is a hands-on session based around blacksmithing techniques.
Subjects covered include a simple history of iron, safety, metal heats,
basic hammer use, etc. The equipment used includes a coal fired portable
forge with rotary blower and four work stations. Each student will produce
a fire place poker.
Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of
water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - grade seven and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $200 (8 students) - if held at the Wareham Forge
: $175
For these sessions only - 1/2 day is 4 hours, full day is 6 hours with
break
full day : $300 (8 students) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $250 *
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The World of the Norse
This program takes the form of a 'fire side chat' by 'Kettil Einarson',
a Norse merchant/adventurer speaking as a voice from the year 1000 AD.
Kettil will describe his life and times, from the point of view of this
historic character. Topics covered include: Norseman & Viking; trading
& exploration; the longship; home life; the law; craftsman & artisan.
Samples of typical trade goods and a number of reproduction artifacts
will be presented for examination by the class. After the 'first person'
session, there will be a modern commentary on the presentation, followed
by a question and answer period.
Requires - open class room
Students - grade four and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $175 - full day : $250 * (two sessions)
Teachers are invited to download the article "World
of the Norse" - a brief introduction to the Viking Age, as a resource
for this study unit. |
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Technology, Arms, and Armour
This program deals with the inter-relationship between materials, processes,
defence and offence though history. Subjects considered include the evolution
of the cutting edge, from stone to layered steels; the development of
armour, from leather to kevlar; the development of firearms. This is a
lecture illustrated with slides and reproduction artifacts, followed with
a try-on session.
Requires - classroom, projection screen, chalkboard
Students - grade eight and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $175 - full day : $250 * (two sessions) |
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Archaeology and Recreation,
the Creation of the Norse Encampment.
This session details the process involved in researching, producing
and presenting a historic re-enactment, in this case the Norse Encampment
series of programs as seen at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC. The evaluation
of various sources and original artifacts will be discussed. The technical
problems of reproducing artifacts in wood, metal and textiles will be
illustrated by examination of the actual reproductions that were created.
How elements of the history of the period were selected and presented
and the use of various interpretive presentations will be analyzed.
Requires - classroom, projection screen, chalkboard
Students - grade eight and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $175 - full day : $250 * (two sessions)
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Iron and Iron Smelting
This session presents an overview of the development of iron - 'from dirt
to metal', focusing on recent iron smelting experiments. How do you take iron
oxide ore and convert it to useful metal? Includes both historical, theoretical
and practical examples. This is a lecture illustrated with slides and physical
samples.
Requires - classroom, projection screen, chalkboard
Students - grade eight and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $175 - full day : $250 * (two sessions)
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Darrell Markewitz of the Wareham Forge also provides physical demonstrations of Iron Smelting, with a historical perspective - available for your Festival or special event.
the Archaeology of Iron Smelting
This is an intensive hands on program designed for senior high school
or university level students. Over the course of four working days, the
students will be guided through the building and firing of a small iron
smelter, conducting a real life experimental archaeology project. Day
one will consist of equipment set up plus lectures on the history and
technical aspects of the project. Day two will have students building
a clay smelter and preparing the required ore and charcoal. Day three
is the firing of the smelter, with the expected production of a metallic
bloom. On day four students will excavate the smelter remains and evaluate
the raw data recorded.
Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access, electric power,
and source of water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - grade ten and up
Fee - $1500* (four days - includes materials)
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* Note - 13 % HST must be added to all fees. (inside Canada)
The changes in Ontario now apply full taxes to educational programming.
In all programs, it is possible to tailor the material to mesh
with your course requirements.
1/2 Day programs run about 2 hours - Full
Day consists of two such sessions.
Two different 1/2 day classroom sessions can be combined to produce
a full day.
A travel cost will apply to schools further than 100 KM of Dundalk
ON.
Schools within 50 KM of Dundalk should ask about reduced course fees.
If you wish further information about any of these programs,
or to schedule a presentation for your school group, please contact:
The Wareham Forge
The Hamlet of Wareham, R.R. #2 Proton Station, Ontario
CANADA - N0C 1L0
(519) 923-9219 // schools@warehamforge.ca
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Text and photography © 1996, Darrell Markewitz
