Black smiths played an important part in a society reliant on horses for both personal and commercial transport. The Waihenga village blacksmith and shoeing forge was situated behind the Post Office in Weld Street.
There also a smith situated on the high ground beside the Huangarua River (Freeman White was the last in that part of town). Other forges were; J J Jackson on Kitchener Street (now Property Brokers corner), later sold to Jack Quinn and moved down Ohio Street, and John Hodge on the corner of Venice Street and Otaraia Road (now PGG Wrightsons). Further from town there were A Evens at ‘Waitapu’ and E Leppein at Pirinoa.
John Hodge established his business in 1882, he later sold it to Dan Ross who in 1902 sold it to William Aitchison. The business was later moved from Venice to Naples Street (now Roger Smith’s property) where it continued in business until 1948.
This building being a former WW1 building relocated from the Featherston camp. This later became part of the Stevens Filterite building. As kids going home from school we would stop at the street door and watch the men at work. How the sparks flew as the hammer struck the red hot iron on the anvil.
But back to Venice Street. In 1914 Aitchison formed his business into a company and expanded it to add a wheelwright and coaching building to the general blacksmithing. The new building housed an office, the smithy with three forges, a woodwork shop both with the latest machinery belt and pulley from a ten horse power Tangye gas driven engine.
Twelve people were employed both making and repairing all kinds of vehicles and implements, along with, the always busy, traditional horse shoeing.
The company built numerous coaches including the local service coaches “Lily of the Valley’, ‘Star of the Valley’, Rose of the Valley , and ‘Pride of the Valley’, the latter which has been completely restored is housed at Cobblestones Museum in Greytown from where it continues to give rides.
The business was eventually moved to the Naples Street site with yet another service being added – but that is another story.
