By Chris MacDonald
The Old West Lives in Sunset Beach
I came to a screeching halt, while traveling down South Pacific
Avenue—Couldn't believe my eyes. There was a blacksmith with his 19th
Century Traveling Forge in front of a house. He was attracting a crowd.
Bicyclists stopped in awe; walkers came over to ask questions; everyone
going by had big smiles on their faces. It was something out of the Old West
movies that you don't see unless you visit Knott's Berry Farm.
Come to find out, the smithy, Kenn Kimberling, was the former, longtime
blacksmith at Knott's that my family enjoyed as we watched him make
horseshoes, tools, spoons and bottle-openers.
"Your handmade tools are fantastic," said Sunset Beach's Renee Balcaen, who
stopped her bike to view the amazing Forge Cart. Balcaen, who grew up in
Eastern Kentucky and whose father was a blacksmith, marveled at the hammers
and tools that Kimberling had created. "What wonderful memories this brings
back for me. My daddy would have loved to see your cart."
The Sunset Beach craftsman, a second generation blacksmith, was getting his
handmade, antique replica Traveling Forge Cart ready for an event the next
day at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona. He often travels to
fairs, rodeos, craft shows, California Missions, the Autry Museum of Western
Heritage and especially schools to preserve the past and present living
history "edutainment" (education & entertainment).
The friendly, one-time train robber at Knott's, knows how to put on a show.
When dressed in his cowboy hat and western gear he has been mistaken for
County Star Tim McGraw. He tells you the history of blacksmiths—how they
learned their much-needed trade from veteran smithies by traveling from town
to town, repairing metal goods, making hammers & other tools, and sometimes
being farriers—shaping horseshoes, then fitting them on horses.
He built his working, antique replica coal Forge Cart, which has
double-chambered bellows (that furnish a strong blast of air) necessary to
shape metal.
In the 19th Century, Sunset and Seal Beach had blacksmiths, who assisted
ranchers and cowboys. There were large cattle drives down a main trail (now
Beach Boulevard) to ships, which transported them throughout California and
elsewhere.
Fittingly, Kenn's son, Pierce, also is a blacksmith and member of the
California Blacksmith Association. His wife, Nickolette, practices an
ages-old craft of hand-making candles. The delightful family and their
unique skills continue to draw attention.
"We did a double-take while passing their Forge Cart," said Senior Pastor
Joe Pedick of nearby Calvary Chapel of the Harbour, who was driving with his
wife, Kathleen. "We had to stop and check it out. This is something you
never see. They're a real asset to the Sunset Beach Community and bring the
Old West alive."