Joe is a local of Manteo, NC, with a family history rooted in forging and blacksmithing. From the age of eight, he spent time alongside his father, smithing in the family’s homemade forge.
Meet Our Summer Volunteer Blacksmith Interpreter
Now a summer volunteer historical blacksmith interpreter at Island Farm, Joe is right at home in the blacksmith shop. The distinctive hammering – metal striking metal – rings out as he crafts items and tools essential to the day-to-day life of a 19th-century farm.
Nails, s-hooks, knives, kitchen implements, and simple locks are all created and displayed in the shop.
“My favorite part about working at Island Farm is learning from other metalworkers – learning their techniques and practicing on projects or ideas I want to try, like making specific alloys or casting keys.”
Joe is a rising junior at Princeton University, studying mechanical engineering. Joe has shared that he also enjoys sewing historical clothing pieces, calligraphy, and “collecting an assortment of useless skills,” he joked.
Joe’s work at Island Farm was made possible through the Dale Summer Award, which supports projects that promote personal growth and deepen areas of special interest.
