D.F. Primeau General Blacksmithing

Daniel F Primeau was the last of the local blacksmiths at 241 Vandervoort Street.  At the turn of the 20th century, there were 18 blacksmith shops in the Tonawandas.  Primeau's shop was located on the east side of Vandervoort Street, just north of Thompson Street.  The Allan Herschell Co.'s roundhouse was behind Mr. Primeau's shop.  In the early 1900's, Primeau charged $1.40 to shoe all four hooves of a horse.  He built wagons, repaired buggies and surreys, and catered to the needs of both the carriage and livery stable trade.  After school, he usually had an audience:  children would stop and watch the sparks fly from his anvil as horseshoes were pounded into proper shapes and sizes.  Active in politics for many years, Mr. Primeau served as chairman of the North Tonawanda Civil service Commission.  He retired at the age of 85 in 1951 after six decads at the forge. He and his wife celebrated their 65th anniversary in 1954.  He was the father of Patricia Primeau Stocky.