VOICES from the PAST

Educational Programs from Darrell Markewitz of the Wareham Forge

Blacksmith Darrell Markewitz has been working metal for over 30 years, starting while a student at Ontario College of Art in the late 1970's. Like most smiths of his generation, he is largely self taught. His keen interest in history is combined with traditional skills. These facets were best combined during his five years as an interpreter at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto, three of which were spent as primary blacksmith for this 1860's historic site. Exceptional abilities as a demonstrator were required, as hundreds of thousands of people visit Black Creek annually. A large part of each working day was involved with educational programming, ranging from group tours to hands-on sessions.

The culture and history of the early Middle Ages has long been an area of personal study. Darrell has been involved in historic recreation of the Medieval period as a hobby since the mid 1970's. During this time he has been involved in a large number of in-school programs. He was an instructor for the Toronto Board of Education's 'Saturday Morning' program. His class, "When Knighthood was in Flower" ran three times a year for over seven years, making it one of the the most successful offerings in the program's history.

An area of special concentration has been research into the Norse. This has culminated in the production of a series of historic displays, based on the Norse colonization of North America. The Norse Encampment was a major attraction at the 1993 and '94 Orangeville Medieval Festival. The mounting of these presentations required extensive historical research, production of approximately 200 reproduction artifacts, and the design of a complete interpretive program. In 1996, Parks Canada sponsored a two week long presentation of the Encampment at L' Anse aux Meadows HNS in Newfoundland. This demonstration was such a success that they commissioned the creation of a new living history for regular seasonal use at the site. The Viking Encampment designed, produced and had its staff trained by Darrell, drawing on all his past interests and experience. The program opened in June of 1997, and continues as a regular feature of this World Heritage Site.
In 2000 he prepared and delivered a six week long, college level program 'Interpreting the Viking Age' for the College of the North Atlantic, St Anthony Newfoundland. There were 40 adult students in this course, who would go on to form the staff for the Norstead historic based attraction.

Currently Darrell lives in the farm country of central Ontario's Grey county, just outside of Dundalk. He operates a historic reproduction shop called the Wareham Forge. His past work is on display in the Museum of Civilization in Hull, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, and is in daily use at many historic sites in the province. He has consulted on a number of major museum exhibits including 'Vikings - North Atlantic Saga. (Smithsonian) and 'Full Circle - First Contatc' (Newfoundland Museum). He created the stand alone exhibit 'World of the Norse' (Cranbrooke Institute of Science). SInce 1992 he has offered a number of weekend training programs at the shop on various aspects of metalworking throughout the year. He is a frequent guest lecturer and demonstrator, as well as having delivered a number of formal academic papers. (Darrell's CV )

The following established educational programs are offered for use in Ontario elementary and secondary schools.
Some of these programs have versions suitable for adult audiences.

Information last revised Feburary 2013

Full Scale Demonstrations
the Art and Mystery of the Blacksmith

This program is centred around the work and social position of the Blacksmith in rural Upper Canada during the 1860's. Subjects covered include tools, working iron, items produced, relation of the smith to his community, etc. Physical demonstration is provided with the use of traditional equipment, a coal fired portable forge with hand crank blower circa 1870. Darrell acts the part, with costume and persona portraying this period. Demonstration becomes Education, as technique is blended to artifact which leads to social history. Questions from the student audience are encouraged, which in turn directs the flow of conversation. Physical demonstration will make up 60% of the time.

Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - all ages, suggest smaller groups on a rotation
Fee - 1/2 day (3 hours) : $300 *- full day (2 x 3 hours) : $ 400 *
Note that this program constitutes a '3/4 load' **
the Viking Age Blacksmith

This program gives students a glimpse into the work and life of the Norse blacksmith of the Viking Age. Portraying the charater of 'Kettil Einarsson', Darrell will demonstrate the use of a charcoal fired sand table forge based on those from the Dark Ages in Northern Europe. Physical examples of the types of metal objects created by the Norse smith will be available for examination. Questions from the student audience are encouraged, which in turn directs the flow of conversation. Physical demonstration will make up 60% of the time.

Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - all ages, suggest smaller groups on a rotation
Fee - 1/2 day (3 hours) : $300 *- full day (2 x 3 hours) : $ 400 *
Note that this program constitutes a 'half load' **
Bloomery Iron Smelt

Unique in Canada, Darrell has the most accumulated experience with the historic direct process iron smelting furnace. How was raw ore converted to usable iron metal in ancient times? This intensive two day long demonstration will present first the building, then the firing, of charcoal fired iron smelting furnace. As well as offering a glimpse of ancient technologies, each furnace contributes to a continuing experimental archaeology investigation.
Day one covers the organization of the smelting area, then the preparation of the materials needed to construct the clay furnace. Once completed, quantities of charcoal and ore must be prepared. The day ends with the slow drying of the furnace via a gentle wood split fire over many hours.
Smelt day starts early, with a pre-heating fire which is gradually allowed to increase. Charcoal is added, the furnace brought to correct operating temperature. With the start of the main sequence, charcoal and ore must be constently added. Tapping of liquid glass slag is often required. Typically the collecting iron mass is ready for extraction four to five hours later. The while hot bloom mass must be snatched from the furnace and worked with sledge hammers as quickly as possible.
A running commentary and constant interaction with the viewing audience takes place through all of this!


Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of water & electricity
Students - all ages, suggest smaller groups on a rotation
It may prove possible with older students for some of them to directly participate.
Fee - 2 day presentation (6 & 10 hours) : $1000 * (provisions for lodgings apply)
Note that this program constitutes a 'full load' **
Darrell Markewitz of the Wareham Forge also provides physical demonstrations of Blacksmithing, with a historical perspective - available for your Festival or special event.

Hands On Programs
Equipment requirements often limit direct particpants. Larger groups can view demonstration portions.
An Introduction to Blacksmithing

This program is a hands-on session that will give young students a very basic introduction to blacksmithing techniques. Subjects covered include a simple history of iron, safety, metal heats, basic hammer use, etc. The equipment used includes a coal fired portable forge with rotary blower and four work stations. Each student will produce a fire place poker.

Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - grade nine and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $300 * (8 students / 3 hours) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $250 *
full day : $400 * (8 students / 2 x 3 hours) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $350 *
Note that this program constitutes a 'full load' **
Ancient Iron

This program is a hands-on session that will give students in insight into the work of the blacksmith of the Dark Ages. Subjects covered include a simple history of iron, safety, metal heats, basic hammer use, etc. Importantly, equipment used will be replicas of Viking Age pit forges and related tools. The forges burn charcoal, and use a double bag bellows for air. Students will work in teams of two, one hammering, one pumping. Simple objects such as hooks are the practice items created. Because of equipment limits, this session limited to 6 students per 3 hour session (three work stations provided).

Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access and source of water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - grade nine and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $300 * (6 students / 3 hours) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $250 *
full day : $400 * (6 students / 2 x 3 hours) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $350 *
Note that this program constitutes a 'full load' **
Glass Bead Making
from the Viking Age

This program is a hands-on session that will allow students to learn the basics of 'lampwork' glass bead making. A special focus will be the examination (and possibly use) of a re-created Viking Age glass bead furnace. The session begins with an discussion of the archaeology of Norse beadmaking, both types and methods. This is followed with a practical session, where students will use modern torches to make a number of their own beads (which they will get to keep). The historic furnace will be fired, with each student (working in pairs) allowed to experience the use of this equipment.
Because of equipment limits, this program limited to 8 students per 3 hour session (three work stations provided).

Requires - outdoor location (or well ventilated workshop space), provision for work benches
Students - grade nine and up
Fee - 1/2 day : $350 * (6 students / 3 hours) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $300 *
full day : $450 * (6 students / 2 x 3 hours) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $400 *
Note that this program constitutes a 'half load' **
the Aristotle Re-Melting Furnace
creating bloomery type steels

This full day program is a more advanced hands-on session that will introduce students to the 'Aristotle' furnace. This is a small charcoal burning furnace that converts any iron based material into a small puck shape of bloomery iron metal with a predictable carbon content. The ideal participants with those already possessing some basic blacksmithing skills, or those with a keen interest in historic metalworking technologies.
The morning session will introduce students to the design and principles of the furnace, and include a demonstration of its operation cycle. This is followed by each student preparing materials and then building their own furnace. Over lunch these will be allowed to dry using a small spit wood fire.
After lunch, each student will bring their furnace up to full operating temperature. Then they will run a number of ' production cycles (each taking roughly 30 - 40 minutes). The result should be a number of roughly 500 gm cakes of 'bloomery steel' (suitable for later bladesmithing). Students will both keep what they produce, but also be able to take their furnace home.
Because of equipment limits, this program limited to 8 students.

Requires - outdoor location (or well ventilated workshop space), provision for work benches
Students - grade nine and up
Fee - full day : $450 * (8 students) - if held at the Wareham Forge : $400 *
Note that this program constitutes a 'half load' **

Lecture Sessions
The World of the Norse

This program takes the form of a 'fire side chat' by 'Kettil Einarson', a Norse merchant/adventurer speaking as a voice from the year 1000 AD. Kettil will describe his life and times, from the point of view of this historic character. Topics covered include: Norseman & Viking; trading & exploration; the longship; home life; the law; craftsman & artisan. Samples of typical trade goods and a number of reproduction artifacts will be presented for examination by the class. After the 'first person' session, there will be a modern commentary on the presentation, followed by a question and answer period. Each sesson lasts approximately two hours.

Requires - open class room
Students - grade four and up

Fee - single session : $200 - full day : $300 * (two sessions)
Note that this program constitutes a 'half load' **

Teachers are invited to download the article "World of the Norse" - a brief introduction to the Viking Age, as a resource for this study unit.

Westward to Vinland
The Archaeology of L'Anse aux Meadows

Some time about 1000 AD, a group of Norse explorers from Greenland and Iceland travelled westward to the land they would name Vinland. Just who were these adventurers? Why did they come and what did they do here? How long did they stay? What do we really know, and what clues have informed that knowledge? Part history, part travelogue, Darrell will share his intimate knowlege of the archaeology of the site and experiences on the actual ground that Lief Eiriksson claimed as his own.

Requires - open class room
Students - grade six and up
A version of this lecture is available for adult (public) presentations

Fee - single session : $200 - full day : $300 * (two sessions)

Teachers are invited to explore the doucmentation offered under "the Norse Encampment" - as a resource for this study unit.

Technology, Arms, and Armour

This program deals with the inter-relationship between materials, processes, defence and offence though history. Subjects considered include the evolution of the cutting edge, from stone to layered steels; the development of armour, from leather to kevlar; the development of firearms. This is a lecture illustrated with slides and reproduction artifacts, followed with a try-on session. Each session runs approximately two hours

Requires - classroom, projection screen, chalkboard
Students - grade eight and up

Fee - single session: $200 *- full day : $300 * (two sessions)
Archaeology and Re-Creation,
the Creation of the Norse Encampment

This session details the process involved in researching, producing and presenting a historic re-enactment, in this case the Norse Encampment series of programs as seen at L'Anse aux Meadows NHSC. The evaluation of various sources and original artifacts will be discussed. The technical problems of reproducing artifacts in wood, metal and textiles will be illustrated by examination of the actual reproductions that were created. How elements of the history of the period were selected and presented and the use of various interpretive presentations will be analyzed. Each session lasts approximately two hours

Requires - classroom, projection screen, chalkboard
Students - grade eight and up
A version of this lecture is available for adult (public) presentations

Fee - single session: $200 * - full day : $300 * (two sessions)
Dirt to Metal - Iron and Iron Smelting

This session presents an overview of the development of iron - 'from dirt to metal', focusing on recent iron smelting experiments. How do you take iron oxide ore and convert it to useful metal? How does this raw material be converted into useful objects? What kind of things did the historic blacksmtih make? Includes both historical, theoretical and practical examples. This is a lecture illustrated with slides and physical samples. Each session lasts approximately two hours.

Requires - classroom, projection screen, chalkboard
Students - grade eight and up
A version of this lecture is available for adult (public) presentations

Fee - single session : $200 * - full day : $300 * (two sessions)
Darrell Markewitz of the Wareham Forge also provides physical demonstrations of Iron Smelting, with a historical perspective - available for your Festival or special event.

Special in Depth Programs
Archaeology & Experiment - Iron Smelting

This is an intensive hands on program designed for senior high school or university level students. Over the course of four working days, the students will be guided through the building and firing of a small iron smelter, conducting a real life experimental archaeology project. Day one will consist of equipment set up plus lectures on the history and technical aspects of the project. Day two will have students building a clay smelter and preparing the required ore and charcoal. Day three is the firing of the smelter, with the expected production of a metallic bloom. On day four students will excavate the smelter remains and evaluate the raw data recorded.

For a full description of this program, see : Archaeology & Experiment

Requires - outdoor location, with vehicle access, electric power, and source of water (Spring and Fall terms!)
Students - grade ten and up
Fee - $1500 * (four days - additional costs may apply)
Note that this program constitutes a 'full load' **

* Note - 13 % HST must be added to all fees. (inside Canada)
The changes in Ontario now apply full taxes to educational programming.

In all programs, it is possible to tailor the material to mesh with your course requirements.
Two different 1/2 day classroom sessions can be combined to produce a full day.

** There is a limit to how much equipment can be transported!
To help you combine various programming offerings, equipment intensive programs have their 'load amount' indicated.

A travel cost will apply to schools further than 100 KM of Dundalk ON.
Schools within 50 KM of Dundalk should ask about reduced course fees.

If you wish further information about any of these programs, or to schedule a presentation for your school group, please contact:


The Wareham Forge

The Hamlet of Wareham, R.R. #2 Proton Station, Ontario
CANADA - N0C 1L0

(519) 923-9219 // schools@warehamforge.ca

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Text and photography © 1996 - present, Darrell Markewitz