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Photo of Firlottes' blacksmith shop
2004
Broadlands, Quebec, Canada

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Arnold George Firlotte (1927 - 1995)

Arnold George Firlotte was born into a large family in Broadlands, near Cross Point. He was the youngest son of George Firlotte and Mary Downs. He trained as a blacksmith when he was very young and he worked in that trade for much of his life.

Arnold George Firlotte built his shop in 1945, around the time of his marriage when he was 18 years old. He made many things in his shop. He primarily made horse shoes and shod horses. His blacksmith shop and home were situated on Kempt Road, the 1st road to Quebec City; a road which was heavily travelled and thus an ideal location for a blacksmith shop. Horses were still a very common means of transportation, and the state of the roads meant that there were always horses in need of new or repaired horseshoes. During later years Arnold George Firlotte still made horseshoes but he would often travel to the horse to shod them. He also made steel bars, axe heads, pevie hooks and handles, and sleigh runners in his shop.

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A close view of Arnold George Firlotte's blacksmith shop.
2004
Broadlands, Quebec, Canada

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Arnold George Firlotte's parents, George and Mary Firlotte, lived with him. Shirley Firlotte Campbell, Arnold George Firlotte's daughter recalls that "the shop was always busy – there were always people coming and going, and there were almost always people needing something, even around meal times they would turn up. My grandmother and mother would often invite them in to dine with us."

Arnold George Firlotte loved the outdoors and he often worked in the woods. He also worked as a guardian on the Restigouche River, and acted as the caretaker for the community's churchyard and rink. He was a family man and enjoyed spending time with them.

The blacksmith shop which Arnold George Firlotte built and worked in still stands today. The shop was inherited by his son.

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Arnold George Firlotte and his daughter, Shirley Campbell, at the door of his blacksmith shop.
1953
Broadlands, Quebec, Canada

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This picutre was taken in 1953 at the front door of Arnold George Firlotte's blacksmith shop. His one year old daughter, Shirley is next to him.