The Choo-Choo Forge, a local blacksmith organization, works alongside Southern Adventist University’s Blacksmithing Club by providing demonstrations of techniques and various donations.
The Choo-Choo Forge has been around for about 23 years, and their mission is “to share the craft of blacksmithing.” The group is made up of “blacksmiths working together to preserve the craft.”
The club sponsor for the Southern Smiths Blacksmithing Club, Dusty Miller, joined the Choo-Choo Forge and the American Appalachian Area Blacksmithing Association about 20 years ago. This is where he had his training, and he would often take students to the Choo-Choo Forge to watch demonstrations.
Three of the Choo-Choo Forge members demonstrated for the club at different times to help teach projects that students were interested in learning. Later on, two of them offered advice for the club to help it thrive.
They have donated many tools and equipment to the Southern Smiths Club. During the winter semester of 2018, the Choo-Choo Forge donated a 50-pound power hammer to the club–estimated worth at $4,000.
Other tools they donated included one propane forge, a gas forge, an anvil and many other metal working tools. The members of the organization are happy to see college students learning and being a part of the craft of blacksmithing.
When the Choo-Choo Forge first learned about the Southern Smiths Club, they waited to see how the club would grow but were always giving advice and guidance.
Former president of the Choo-Choo Forge Jack Wheeler, mentioned how the club is a subgroup of the Appalachian Area
chapter, which has been around for at least 50 years. Both clubs meet about six to seven times a year for regional conferences in Tennessee.
Wheeler said, “We do this to promote the blacksmithing community and educate the general public about the blacksmith craft.”
Southern’s blacksmithing club has gone there several times to help with cleanup, as well as to volunteer.