Farm Shop

Farmers did most of their own equipment and household repairs themselves. A few like ours, even had a blacksmith’s forge. Most had a bench with a vise, and the tools necessary to sharpen or repair dull or broken equipment. In our shop, we have the tools needed for shoe repair, broom making, blacksmithing, rope making and other necessary tasks the farm may need a small shop for. The 19-teens were a transition period for Cache Valley farmers. The machinery was becoming more mechanized; steam engines and automobiles required the farmers to become mechanics as well as carpenters and blacksmiths. The farm shop was part of the male domain, and his work was an integral part of farm life. If a piece of equipment broke, it took time and money to fix it in town. Special trips for mechanical repairs were few and far between. The shop allowed for speedy repairs and maintenance at a reasonable cost. The savings realized by doing repairs by themselves at home, paid for the tooling of the shops. The ability to make on-the-spot repairs provided the farmer with more than enough reason to operate a shop of his own.