Business: Early Loyal Blacksmith Shops

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Bragstad, Karrup, Ayer, Clouse, Luchterhand, Pratt, Miles, Roder, Bannach, Maianic, Philpott

----Source: Family Scrapbook

The blacksmith shop had been an important part of any early settlers' community. To the north end of the village, Ole Bragstad's place became the Loyal Separator Creamery Company in 1898 but the following year John Karrup, Edgar and Jonas Ayer were operating a blacksmith shop there again. This is the same building in which Wallace Clouse of a later era had his shop and there are quite a few around to remember "the burning sparks that fly" as they went along with father to watch. In the more recent years this has been known as the Luchterhand Implement Company.

Ralph Pratt came in 1912 to the Philpott Shop.. In the '30's Walter Miles followed with a welding shop as did Carl Roder. The building was burned by the Loyal Volunteer Fire Department.

John Bannach also had a shop on the bank of Bear Creek where the Etta shop had been. Milan Maianic has built a new building on the site, Bannach way probably the last blacksmith having been on call after he no longer had the business.

By the 1950's mere horses were being taken to the fox farm than were taken to the blacksmith shop! Farming and automobiles had changed the pace.