Shawnee Prairie’s Blacksmith Shop the result of a ‘giving community’
By Bob Robinson

GREENVILLE – “So far we’ve got 2,000 to 3,000 hours of volunteer labor in it,” Darke County Park District Director Roger Van Frank said as he looked down the hill at the Blacksmith Shop at Shawnee Prairie and the half dozen plus people working on it.

“They put in about 200 hours a week on this. I pay them by going out and bringing back coffee and donuts every once in a while.”

Van Frank referred to his volunteers as the “over the hill gang.” They are all in their sixties or older. All know their business; some with 30-40 years of experience.

“Jim Poeppelman is the brains behind all this,” he said. “I just close my eyes and point. He gets the job done.”

Van Frank said he hadn’t been at the Parks long before they started the Log House. It was a major project. The blacksmith shop is the second major project, one he hadn’t anticipated in the park’s future. Both will be high maintenance due to the construction quality and historical detail.

“We researched it. It seems they did everything at the local blacksmith shop, from horseshoes to construction nails.” Van Frank noted the shop will be used for educational purposes, and it’s a place where local blacksmiths can come to work when they want.

“This is the last project I’d have ever expected to work on,” he added. “But we wanted to do it right. We want it to continue for 100 years.”

Van Frank thanked the volunteers who have contributed to make the Blacksmith Shop possible…

“I just happen to mention things we need. Businesses step up and make it possible. Mote & Associates, Ansonia Lumber, CF Poeppelman, Darke County Lumber and more…” He finished by pointing to the half dozen plus men working on the various parts of the blacksmith shop roof. “And our retired professionals. This wouldn’t be happening without them.”

Van Frank noted the various projects the District has been able to accomplish through donations and volunteer hours. He added he has a great staff… they have been working on Prairie Days all year. But the volunteers are what makes it all work. There are 100 volunteers scheduled to work over the Prairie Days weekend.

“This is the most giving community I’ve ever seen.”

While the majority of materials and other requirements were donated, expenses are still involved.

“We still need about $4,000 in our “Adopt a Log” campaign for the blacksmith shop,” Van Frank said. He was confident it would happen. “That’s only 40 people at $100 a pop.”

Van Frank said the Blacksmith Shop Grand Opening will be at 10:15 a.m. Sept. 28 during Darke County Parks Prairie Days.

“We have 23 days to get it finished… they will have it ready.”