During the Christmas holidays in 1935, the two room school at Crocus Hill burned down. As a result of the fire, this building was erected, and used as a temporary school house from January to June 1936. In November of 1936 the building was purchased by Mr. Roy Munro and was moved from the Crocus Hill site to Roy’s farm to be used as a blacksmith shop.
The 16 x 24 foot structure was skidded approximately 2.5 miles by a team of horses. Roy then moved all his shop equipment from his small old blacksmith shop into this building which he faithfully used until 1986. His retirement was forced by ill health. His was a total of 50 years of dedicated service to his community. Roy donated this shop fully equipped to the Minnedosa Agricultural Society before he passed away in 1989.
A note of interest – some of the pupils attending Crocus Hill School during this period of time included Roy’s younger brother Darcy, Ethel Erven, Walter and Wendell Johnson, Ed and Lauchie Marcino, Raymond Matheson, Doris Saunders, Walter Wilmot and others.
The Museum Committee contacted Roy’s brother Darcy and the Ag Society and obtained permission to move the blacksmith shop and equipment to the Heritage Village. Brandon Movers moved the Blacksmith Shop in late August or early September of 1997 to the Heritage Village. The shop has been shingled with cedar shingles (2002), painted and is fully equipped and operational (for special events).
