Following in the footsteps of Colonial settlers, a family tradition of blacksmithing was started around 1900 that continues today at Early New England Homes by Country Carpenters. Fred Brehant served as the blacksmith for the Town of Hebron in those days, and he passed his trade on to his son. Serving as our very own village blacksmith for decades, Fred Brehant Jr. truly embodied the Early American spirit in the traditions and craftsmanship of past generations. His son, Fred III (Freddy), continues to hand forge a variety of hardware to add an authentic touch to every home crafted by Early New England Homes.
The blacksmithing process begins with steel flat stock sourced from local suppliers. Using a power shear, Freddy cuts the steel to the lengths needed for the hardware to be forged. The stock is heated in a coal forge, which Freddy says grants more control over the temperature and the atmosphere than a gas forge. Utilizing many of the tools that his grandfather used in his shop, such as the forge, anvil, hammers, and tongs, he then shapes the stock using a variety of old–world techniques, such as drawing out, upsetting, and bending, just like the colonial blacksmiths who made the original hardware for their barns and homes hundreds of years ago.
Freddy takes pride in his work and strives for authenticity in each piece. Combining functionality and art, our hand forged hardware captures the spirit and character of old New England and the history behind these tools and techniques adds to the essence of our mission to remain true to the early New England style.
