The Blacksmith Shop

From:  Our Island Heritage, Vol. 2, 1977, complied by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith:

Every respectable town had it's blacksmith shop, for it was as important to transportation as our gas stations are today.  This shop was owned by Mr.David P. Ford, Mrs. Ida Burke's father.  It was located close to where Mrs. Randall's house now is, facing East.  There was a narrow dirt road, more like a lane, that was in front of it, curved around and came out in front of the Chamber's House.  (Editor's Note:  the original site of the Blacksmith Shop is just North of the Snack Shack's current location)

Mr. Ford was a capable man.  Besides being the blacksmith, during ginning season he operated a small gin owned by Mrs. Anna Peniston.  Also when there was a need, he ran a small sawmill for Mrs. Peniston.

Ruth Peniston tells of a man who had some timber in the hills and had a man who worked for him to haul the logs to the mill.  Mr. Ford sawed it and turned in the dimensions and the amount due to Mrs. Peniston.  When the man came to pay the bill, he said it was wrong, that he didn't have that much lumber and couldn't owe that much.  Mrs. Peniston told him to pay the amount that he thought was right.  Ten years later, she received a check from him and a letter saying he had found some old receipts and the check was for the balance of the amount due her.

"Miss" Ruth quoted her mother as saying, "This is his conscious money."