The Long Grove Historical Society is bringing a bit of Long Grove’s working past back to life during Vintage Days. Join us Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. near the Covered Bridge for a live blacksmithing demonstration. Watch iron take shape under hammer and anvil, hear the ring of the forge, and see a trade that once played an essential role in everyday life in early Long Grove.
In the 1800s, the village blacksmith was more than a maker of horseshoes. He was part mechanic, part repair shop, part metalworker, and part problem-solver for the farms and families around town. Long Grove’s own blacksmithing history includes names such as Daniel Rose, the Bollenbach family, and the Umbdenstocks, whose work helped support the crossroads community that grew here.
Stop by, enjoy the demonstration, and experience a small but fiery piece of Long Grove history.
There once was a smith by the bridge,
Who hammered hot iron to a ridge.
With sparks in the air,
And history to share,
He’ll forge ’til three near the bridge.
