John Johnson, Local Blacksmith
PARAGOULD, AR May 26—–Local blacksmiths, John Johnson and Greg Slayton, were on the BRTC Paragould Campus on Friday, May 7, to demonstrate iron working skills using mobile forges fueled by coal.
During the presentation, Johnson and Slayton described how blacksmiths’ tools, hammers, anvils, and chisels are used and demonstrated how steel is heated and shaped. Slayton explained that many of the techniques used in modern times are identical to those used in the past.
Johnson and Slayton belong to a Facebook group known as the Northeast Arkansas Blacksmiths. For more information about local blacksmiths, visit the page.
For more information about upcoming Paragould Corporate and Community Education classes, contact Priscilla Stillwell, Executive Director of Paragould Operations, by phone at (870) 239-0969, ext. 5101 or by email at priscilla.stillwell@blackrivertech.edu, or visit https://blackrivertech.org/workforce-corporate-and-community-training.