Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths
Welcome!
Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths (AACB), an affiliate of ABANA, is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 1970. It’s founders include, Jud Nelson, Joe Humble, Joe Neely, A.P Billingsley, and Bill Planzer.
The AACB’s main purpose is education - in an effort to preserve and promote the art of blacksmithing. This is accomplished through informational and educational activities, including workshops, demonstrations, and communications.
Many of the local forge groups have libraries which may include videotaped demonstrations, newsletters, and various blacksmith publications that are available to members on loan, often free of charge.
Many of the local forges also have “club” shops that are available for members to use for learning and to work in, in their journey to becoming practiced blacksmiths.
The AACB newsletter, which can be received as part of your membership, is considered by many as one of the best in the country, and possibly the world.
We are located in Middle and East Tennessee, North Georgia and Western North Carolina. If you are looking for a forge near you, see the Local Forge listing elsewhere on this site - it lists the meeting times, dates, places and contact person for each local forge.
There are regional meetings annually - all across the region:
January - Murfreesboro, TN, hosted by Rutherford County, contact Donnie Fergus (615) 793-6027
May or June - Chattanooga, TN, hosted by Choo-Choo Forge, contact Jack Wheeler
July - Clinch River, Knoxville, TN, hosted by Clinch River, contact Richard Suffridge
September - Fiddler's Grove, Lebanon, TN, hosted by Fiddler's Grove, contact Danny Parsons
November - John C. Campbell Folk School (JCCFS), Brasstown, NC, hosted by JCCFS, contact Lonnie Farmer
December - Smithville, TN, hosted by AACB, contact Lonnie Farmer
The AACB is one of the seven regions that host the biannual Southeastern Blacksmith Conference in Madison, GA. This conference is held the third weekend in May, every other year, in odd numbered years. Watch for further information as it becomes available. The blacksmiths in our organization are dedicated to the teaching of the craft. Many of our members teach blacksmithing both at their local shops and also at nationally recognized craft schools across the USA.
All are welcome to join us in our pursuit of learning this exciting craft.