A father/son duo who helped recondition a former blacksmith shop in Towamensing Township have been recognized for their historic restoration work.

The Towamensing Township Historical Society recently presented its 2021 Historical Preservation Award to Colby and Rick Moyer for the work they did on the building at 3720 Stagecoach Road.

Karl Rolappe, Historical Commission chair, also thanked the extended Moyer family for their contributions toward the restoration as part of the annual award that is given to a worthy township resident.

“As the main driver of this project, Colby Moyer, Rick and BillyJo’s, son, has always been interested in historic artifacts and blacksmithing,” Rolappe said.

“He’s always been fascinated to learn how common people made a living through various trades in history. He took that interest to a new level, notably, working in historic Bethlehem as a blacksmith and as a revolutionary war re-enactor.”

Rolappe noted that Colby and Rick began the project on Sept 19, 2015, where the aim was to also move the building to a safer, more open area on their property.

“During the reassembly, Colby’s goal was to keep the building as historically accurate as possible,” he said.

“He made sure they used most of the original wood and pegs to reconnect the beams and columns. They even fabricated some pegs and other structural members where more improvisation was needed.”

Rolappe said it was completed on Dec. 31, 2015, and added that just as in history, Colby works with a forge, post vice and anvil.

“During my tenure as Historical Commission chair, there has never been a clearer example of the type of effort we seek to reward for the historic restoration of our township’s treasures,” he said.

“Therefore, it is with great honor that we, the Historical Commission of Towamensing Township, Pennsylvania, present our 2021 Historical Preservation Award to Colby and Rick Moyer.”