Abstract
In March 2022, the collapse of a dilapidated, early 20th-century blacksmith shop on myfamily’s sheep ranch in Montour Valley, Idaho prompted a short archaeological salvage project. The
project recovered approximately 6,200 items, most of which were metal and associated with various
aspects of farm life. Through the investigation of the recovered historical artifacts, this research
explores the role of family-operated blacksmith shops in rural Idaho – a lesser-known, yet vital
component of Idaho’s agricultural history. By the turn of the century, Montour Valley was a bustling
industrial hub as a result of the mining boom, the nearby Boise-Payette Lumber Company, and the
establishment of the Idaho Northern Railroad. These industries supported a rural community engaged
in intensive agriculture and ranching. Blacksmith shops operating on private properties were
necessary to maintain agricultural livelihoods, and speaking personally, served as an integral part of
my family’s history. More broadly, this research aims to deepen our understanding of the role of
smaller, local blacksmiths in the rural American West and enrich the agricultural history of
Southwestern Idaho.