Kick-off

Watch the last part of this mini movie (0:38–1:03) with the sound off. Do not look at the transcript. Who do you think used to work in this building? What kind of work did they do? Find clues in the film and write down your ideas. Then watch the mini movie to see if you were right.

This is a blacksmith shop that was constructed in southeastern Minnesota by an immigrant by the last name Mikkelson. And he was an immigrant from Telemark and he brought his blacksmithing skills with him, and there was definitely a need for blacksmiths here in the United States. Especially in rural farming communities where uh-, wagon wheels were needed uh-, to be repaired and horses needed shoes and all of … uh-, different tools needed to be constructed. So his skills were very, very important here. And uh, he needed to make some money quickly, so the uh, first order of business was to build a shop. And what’s interesting about this particular place was that he and his wife actually lived in it. Uh-, there’s a small little loft area inside where I imagine that they slept and uh she cooked on the … uh-, uh-, forge area there. And they actually lived in this space for two years before they uh-, had either enough time or enough money to erect a dwelling for uh-, for themselves.

Crossroads

The Mikkelsons

Kick-off

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