Campbell's

One of my favorite spots in town was Lawson Campbell’s blacksmith shop; the first and only. He was always busy fixing farm equipment. It was smoky, noisy and fascinating with the big wide bells moving on big wheels to run different tools. Bellows to keep the coal fire red hot to soften the steel. It was a hard packed dirt floor with odd shaped pieces of steel laying around. His Blacksmith shop was in operation from 1937 to 1976.

Remember camping and swimming at Marean Lake when his daughter Joanie Campbell; who was in my grade had a heart attack from the cold water and died. They held the funeral in the town hall and the kids in our grade were in the front row, not really understanding.