Dakota City Heritage Village

Blacksmith Shop

Mrs. Frank Tabaka donated this building, which was moved from Lakeville to the Dakota City site in 1965. It had
been used as a warehouse when Frank operated the Tabaka Brothers Hardware Store. There was a fanning mill
in the warehouse where farmers brought their grain to be cleaned.

A brick forge was built and fitted with an 1860s bellows donated by Kalmer Senstad of Lakeville. All machinery in
the shop is run off a line shaft from Russ Christiansen's Blacksmith Shop in Lakeville. This line shaft is powered
by a gasoline engine. The Dakota City blacksmith crew keep the shop "ready for business".

Some new upgrades and repairs have been done this year. An new wider door has been installed in the front,
along with a new brick walkway, which should make it much easier for handicap access to the building. Also,
parts are ordered from Centaur Forge to repair our brick forge, hopefully it will also be "up and running" for this
fair.

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Dakota City Heritage Village, 4008 220th St. W., Farmington, MN 55024 651-460-8050 info@dakotacity.org