Johnson Blacksmith Shop

John Johnson's blacksmith shop was a prominent business in Winnsboro, located on Franklin Street, an area commonly referred to as "Smoky Row" due to the considerable smoke produced by coal fires from the shops.

Founding and Expansion

John Johnson arrived in Winnsboro from Alabama in 1898, initially intending to work as a farmer. After one year, he shifted his focus and decided to try his skills as a smith.

• Establishment: In about 1900, Johnson, along with his partner, Jeff Frazier, constructed a building at 214 Franklin St. to house the blacksmith shop. Johnson acquired the necessary tools from local hardware merchant, Tip Anderson.

• Scale and Services: The Johnson Blacksmith Shop quickly became the largest business in town. It employed 18 men involved in blacksmithing, woodworking, repairing wagons and buggies, and building plow stocks. Horseshoeing was a major operation, with three employees dedicated solely to shoeing up to 40 horses and mules daily.

• Manufacturing: The shop was also known for constructing architectural elements; porch columns for many older homes in and around Winnsboro were assembled or manufactured there (Mr. Frazier is specifically mentioned in connection with this work) and then transported by log wagon to the construction sites.

• Growth and Modernization: By 1911, the business had outgrown its original facility. Johnson replaced it with a larger 50x100 ft. structure at the same location.

Transition to Automotive Service

The expansion in 1911 coincided with the shop’s transition into the town's first auto garage.

• New Role: John Johnson and his son, Tom, who joined the business in 1906, became Winnsboro's first auto mechanics. Tom was particularly interested in the gasoline engine and the new "horseless carriage".

• Repair Expertise: When the garage opened, customers seeking new parts for their vehicles typically visited the blacksmith shop, where the smith would either repair the existing part or manufacture a new one from scratch.

The End of an Era

As mechanical machines began replacing the faithful horse in the late 1930s and 1940s, the relevance of traditional blacksmithing faded.

• Transfer of Ownership: In 1941, John Johnson turned over the family business to his sons, Tom and Gus.

• Closing: By 1957, the once-proud Johnson Blacksmith Shop—which was once considered one of the largest in the United States—was an old weather-beaten building focused on minor tasks such as sharpening plow points and working on lawnmowers. Gus sold his interest to Tom, who then closed the doors in November 1957, marking the closure of Winnsboro's last blacksmith shop.

• Legacy: Only the north and south walls of the original building are said to remain today, as the structure at 214 Franklin St. was remodeled in the early 1960s. Though the forging sounds are gone, the memories of the shop persist.

  
  

Information sourced from articles in the Winnsboro News written by the late Bill Jones.