Blacksmiths Gather at Mackinac Island

As Tonya Grupp of St. Louis, Michigan, applies water to cool down the heated area of the iron picket, and Steve Manning of Ossineke holds it in place in the vise, Steve Neumann (right) of Saginaw carefully twists the picket to give it a design. The picket is one of 80, along with 10 posts, that were made during the 16th annual Blacksmith Convention held on Mackinac Island Saturday, August 5. The group, which consists of blacksmith hobbyists from across the state, completed the first stage in creating a wrought iron fence that will encircle the city's war veterans memorial on Market Street. Next year, the group will make stringers and loops to complete the project. It will then be sand blasted, primed, and painted before being installed at the park in the fall of 2007.