machinist so I just kind of fell right into the blacksmithing ,” said Crevitt , who lives in the Russell community .
Candle holders , flowers , birds , furniture , cooking skillets and utensils , replica fireplace tools and hooks , Crevitt has made it all over the decades .
Whether using a rounded hot chisel to forge some veins in the face of a small metal leaf or hammering a piece of heated steel on an anvil until it takes the thin , round shape of a candle holder , Crevitt pays close attention to detail with his craft .
“ It is kind of an artistry and craft combined ,” he said . “ They are always asking is it artwork or craftwork , but it is kind of both .”
Many local residents are familiar with Crevitt from his blacksmithing demonstrations at Soulé Steam Feed Works , but his skill in metalworking has long been recognized around the state .
Crevitt became a member of The Craftsmen ’ s Guild of Mississippi in 1986 and was made a Fellow of the guild in 1995 . He has held memberships in the Mississippi Forge Council , the Alabama Forge Council , the Louisiana Metalsmiths Association and the Artist-Blacksmith ’ s Association of North America .
He has sharpened his craft at blacksmithing classes at the John C . Campbell Folk School in Brasstown , North Carolina , at Williamsburg , Virginia , and at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg , Tennessee . He has even taught classes in the craft himself .
His wife , Linda , who formerly made handcrafted brooms , also was a member of the Craftsmen ’ s Guild . For about 15 years , the couple operated a full-time business from a small shop and a forge at their home . They traveled to festivals and craft shows , conducting demonstrations and selling their wares .
“ When I am doing demonstrations , I try to come up with something that you can make quick and easy , some kind of hook or leaf or nail ,” Crevitt said . “ I ’ ve probably made over a
Crevitt heats an iron rod in the flames before taking it out to hammer out a shape .
Crevitt displays a tiny set of pliers he crafted .
thousand leaves doing craft shows and demonstrations .” Over the years , he has created a lot of reproduction pieces or performed restoration work for several old churches and buildings , including making altar stands , tables , a sign and crozier for Holy Cross Catholic Church in Philadelphia .
“ I have made a lot of stuff for individuals over the years ,” he said . “ They would find some kind of old cooking utensil or something made in the 1800s and they would want me to make them one just like it .”
Using shackles , chains and locks welded together on a wire grid panel , he created memorial artwork that was cemented into the ground at the Forks of the Road historical site near Natchez . Back in the 1800s , Forks of the Road was one of the largest slave markets in the country , and the National Park Service wanted more exhibits to denote its historical significance .
Old fireplace cooking equipment , including the pans and the utensils , as well as the dog irons and the trivets are just a few of his favorite things to create .
“ The old colonial American period , I have always been interested in that , so a lot of my stuff has come from that period ,” said Crevitt , whose backyard forge is filled with tools he has made or collected . While not as busy these days , he still does a little blacksmithing for friends and neighbors whether it is sharpening equipment blades or making a fireplace set . He also does work on decorative pieces and looks forward to his Soulé demonstrations and educating visitors on the skill of blacksmithing .
“ I don ’ t teach classes anymore but anybody that ’ s interested I will invite them out or get them to come to Soulé and I will help them learn the basic techniques ,” he said .
When asked his secret for how he goes about creating a beautiful iron work , Crevitt answered simply , “ Get it hot and hit it .” www . meridianstar . com
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