Historical Homes in Southern Ontario

Speaker: Tom Murison, Oakville Historical Society. Tom is also the owner of Murison Renovations in Oakville, specializing in the documentation and renovation of historic properties. One example of Tom's work is the Waldie Blacksmith Shop in Milton.

Architecture and Restoration

The Waldie Blacksmith Shop is a post and beam timber structure with rubble stone infill walls built by James Waldie in 1865. It is rare that a blacksmith shop structure still exists in its original urban location, as most shops have been lost or moved to a museum setting. The building has been lovingly preserved and restored on its original site under the auspices of the Milton Historical Society.

Alfred was the last member of the Waldie family to operate the blacksmith shop, which he closed in the early 1970’s. His dream to have the shop restored is now a reality thanks to the efforts of the Waldie family, Milton Historical Society, Town of Milton, Province of Ontario, and the community.

An example of Tom's attention to historical accuracy is the attached diagram, indicating the wall structure at the Blacksmith Shop.