A pretty much self sufficient ranch, the Bar U had everything needed on site to maintain both its herd of horses and its equipment. Though it also had a separate machine shop on site, a lot of equipment repair fell to the blacksmith in the early years.
The shop still operates in the summer, shoeing the ranch's horses and doing other odd jobs. It now operates as a demonstration blacksmith shop manned by volunteer blacksmiths.
Once extending over an area of 160,000 acres, the Bar U once maintained as many as 30,000 cattle and 1000 Percheron horses. Founded by Fred Stimson about 1881, it was one of the leading ranches in western Canada. Though not at that time known as the Bar-U, the ranch later got its name from the brand that Stimson used, a bar over the letter "U". Stimson operated the ranch from 1881 to 1902, when it was taken over by George Lane, with several partners.
Lane operated it with his partners until 1908, when he bought them out and continued to run the ranch alone until 1925. It was in 1908 that Lane gave the ranch the name "Bar U". In 1927, Pat Burns, of Burns Meats fame, bought the Bar U and operated it until 1950. After this time parts of the ranch were sold off, and in 1991 it was designated a National Historic Site, at which time the remaining land was bought by Parks Canada. It was opened to the public as a historic site in 1995.
The Bar U is notable for its history and for its place in the area's history, as well as its association with its various owners. It is also notable for the many original buildings that remain in place, most of which are still in very good unrestored condition.
The ranch site still contains the original house, a bunkhouse, a large grainery, garage, blacksmith shop, barns, stables, tack shop, and many other buildings. As well, there are many original artefacts, carriages, wagons and agricultural implements to be seen.
The Bar U is open to the public every year from late May until late September. Well worth a visit, the ranch appears essentially as it did when it was in operation 75 to 100 years ago.
Blacksmith Shop
Classified Federal Heritage Building
Description of Historic Place
The Blacksmith Shop at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada, also known as Building No. 14, is a simple, rectangular one-storey log structure with a medium pitched gabled roof supported by exposed peeled-pole rafters covered with cedar shingles. The walls of the Blacksmith Shop are constructed of round logs with squared dovetail-notched corners. The gable walls are also constructed of logs. A chimney is visible at the northwest corner of the roof and a cupola vent can be seen at the roofline. There is sliding door on the north façade. The Blacksmith Shop is in a community grouping in an open and dramatic landscape. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.
Heritage Value
The Blacksmith Shop is a Classified Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.
Historical value:
The Blacksmith Shop is one of the best examples of the national theme of the development of ranching in Alberta, and its importance in the development of Canada. It was of importance in the daily operations of the ranch, associated with the shoeing of horses and the repair of farm machinery and implements. The building is a component of the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada. The structure is also associated with George Lane, a prominent Alberta cattleman who was hired at Bar U Ranch in 1884 to serve as the ranch foreman and who ran the ranch between 1902 and 1925. Finally, the Blacksmith Shop is associated with Patrick Burns, who purchased the Bar U Ranch in 1927 to add to his vast cattle empire. Burns, who is recognized as the kingpin of the meat processing industry in western Canada during the mid-1920s, has been designated a person of national significance.
Architectural value:
The Blacksmith Shop is a very good example of the agricultural building type used at the Bar U Ranch and on the Western Prairies. The building incorporates good quality materials and craftsmanship. Its value also lies in its functional design and common construction details which is characteristic of the buildings erected at the Bar U Ranch. It has strong aesthetic impact due to its traditional log construction, strong colour scheme and prominent cupola.
Environmental value:
The building reinforces the adjacent buildings and is arranged to great functional effect in a simple and beautiful, natural setting. The Blacksmith Shop is part of the same community grouping as the Saddle Horse Barn and Bunkhouse and Cookhouse Building. Part of a cohesive group in an open and dramatic landscape, the Blacksmith Shop contributes significantly to the Character of the Bar U Ranch. This landmark value is reinforced by the designation of the complex as a national historic site of Canada.
From NRCAN
