Eisenstadt Friesoythe blossomed: New club doubles number of members!

Eisenstadt Friesoythe blossomed: New club doubles number of members!

Friesoythe, Deutschland - A future -oriented undertaking has started in Friesoythe: The association "Friends of the Eisenstadt Friesoythe" has more than doubled its number of members in just one year - from 21 to over 40 supporters. Founded in August 2024, the aim of the association is clear: to keep the local smithy and iron city history as well as the associated culture alive and to carry it to the general population and tourists. "We would also like to include our Polish twin city of Swiebodzin," said a club representative.

The commitment is impressive. So the club was active at the iron festival and introduced itself to the city administration. Even if the forging mild day was canceled, over 60 peace nails could still be manufactured, the proceeds of which the DLRG Friesoythe benefited. A blacksmith was particularly successful for women, which was offered on the occasion of World Women's Day in March and was fully booked.

blacksmith: a look at the story

The forging has deeply rooted traditions in Friesoythe. As early as 1599, the forge was mentioned in writing, although its origins go back to the 10th century. In the course of the development of the craft, the forging guild experienced blossoming, in particular through the availability of lawn iron ore in the area. In 1660, 17 masters were already counted, and the products, mainly agricultural tools such as scours and hatchets, were in demand.

The role of blacksmithing as an economic pillar of the city is undisputed. Nevertheless, the craft had to accept setbacks between 1753 and 1816 due to competition and changed trade routes. According to the report by Friesoythe.de, the blacksmith was the only guild of the city, which is all the more important.

diverse projects for the future

The association not only plans the retrospective, but also looks into the future. The main project is the creation of a children's book that is supposed to tell the history of the iron city in a child -friendly manner. The book is illustrated by the Friesoyth artist Christa Anneken and conveys the adventures of Elster Sophie and Fuchs Friedo on 28 pages who explore the city. "We want to bring preschoolers closer to the tradition of the iron city and inspire them for our culture," explains a member of the board. The presentation of the book is planned for the upcoming blacksmith day in November.

In addition, the board meets monthly to plan new actions. In cooperation with the home club, a working group was founded to continue to actively stand up for the blacksmith and iron city history. And that is also necessary - because forging, as a craft and art form, has a long history that goes back to the Iron Age. It is shaped by various techniques such as hammering and pressing, whereby traditional skills have to be reinterpreted in order to remain relevant in the 21st century.

Current efforts show a growing interest in handmade works of art, which looks promising for the future of blacksmithing in Friesoythe. "We have a good knack for what the citizens, tourists and younger generation asks," says a club member optimistic.

The association "Friends of the Eisenstadt Friesoythe" contributes significantly to the fact that the smithy and iron city history is not only preserved, but is kept alive. It remains to be seen here which creative and cultural highlights will still come to the city.

Further information on the forge history in Friesoythe can be found on friesoythe.de and on the general aspects of forging art Klettgauer-kunstschmiede.ch.