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Rickreall blacksmith shares his enthusiasm for the craft By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Matt Crandall works for a semiconductor company crafting tools down to the exacting micron, within the confines of an ultra clean room, requiring the donning a “bunny suit”. But a funny thing happened along the way – he enjoyed getting dirty. “My son and I started doing blacksmithing about seven years ago after a father-son retreat in Silverton called Camp Canyonview. They did shotgun, archery, parachord, zip line and blacksmithing,” Crandall recalled. “We did it the first time, it was fun. Then the second time it was still fun. Then when we did it a third time, I was like, ‘Okay, now I gotta go buy stuff.’” He so enjoyed what he learned, he now teachers others the craft of blacksmithing out of his own shop, Crandall Forge. His first attempt at a shop took a little trial and error at his Hillsborough home before moving to Rickreall. “It’s kinda funny. I had a post vice that was bolted to a wooden leg of an outdoor awning,” Crandall said. “Every time I was hitting on stuff, it would shake the whole house. And my wife was like, ‘You gotta do something different about that.’” When they moved to Rickreall five years ago he set up a really small blacksmithing shop separate from another woodworking shop. ‘It got along a little too well,” Crandall said. So they set up a car port on a concrete slab on the property where the goats were originally hanging out. He moved them out and recreated an old-time looking blacksmith shop to start hosting classes. While many have been attracted to blacksmithing thanks to shows on television like Forged in Fire, Crandall steers his classes away from knifesmithing and more to the

Dallas water line project clears hurdle for next phase By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

Matt Crandall gets a closer look to ensure a student is hammering a piece of metal correctly that will eventually be turned into a rose at his first beginning blacksmithing class of the year. Photos by David Hayes creative side. Crandall set up three forge work stations with the focus of getting kids interested in the forge. Ages 7-15 are free with an adult. “We try to keep prices reasonable. We try to get people in to swing a hammer for the first time. That’s really our focus. That’s how I found out I enjoyed it,” Crandall said. The first class of 2026 was a beginners blacksmithing. It attracted back Falls City residents Jason Evans and his son Noah, 13, now in their fourth session with Crandall. “He got into blacksmithing, it was something he wanted to do, so I started taking classes with him,” Jason said. Noah’s interest in blacksmithing was simple.

“I get to hit things with heavy metal. I like to make cool looking things,” Noah said. So far in Crandall’s classes they’ve forged a hook, a heart and a leaf. This week’s project was more advanced - a metal rose. “He’s not drawn to the knife side of it like his older brother. He likes to make knives when he can,” Jason said. “(Noah’s) wanting to put in the effort to learn other things. He’s wanting to do this to complement his woodworking artwork. That’s the plan.” If any students express an interest in knifemaking, Crandall steers them toward other regional blacksmiths See BLACKSMITH, page A12

A student gets focused on hot metal he crafted into the shape of a rose at Crandall Forge in Rickreall.

In its efforts to decommission 1940s era concrete cylinder pipes that curries drinking water, the city of Dallas has received a green light from the state to move forward with phase two. “We certainly got our money’s worth from this 1940s pipe, that was the main transmission line down to town,” said Jake Dyer, assistant Public Works director. On Dec. 30, in a press release from the state, the Oregon Health Authority - Drinking Water Services determined that the proposed drinking water project “Ash Street Water Transmission Pipeline” for the city of Dallas conforms to the criteria in statute and in environmental review process guidance. Dyer said the city completed phase one of the pipeline replacement last year, using “in house” manpower from Public Works to replace 3,700 feet of 16-inch line from the finished water reservoir down the southwest end of Clay Street. The second phase looks to replace another 2,700 feet that will cross Ash and Fairview streets with the new standard of ductal iron pipes. Dyer said the city will look to send this second phase out to contractor bids due to the complexity of the project crossing several intersections and utilities. “The project is slated to go out to bid in the first part of the new year and break ground in the spring,” Dyer said. He added the project will not impact traffic as badly as phase one See WATER, page A12

Polk Flea Market thrives with new, legacy vendors

in a row,” Chris said. Rick, who was “born into it” after working for his folks’ auction It was a new year for the Polk business for many years, added their Flea Market, now in its 56th year inventory stays mainly in the vintage on the first Sunday of every month at the Polk County Fairgrounds. But and collectible stuff. “But we’re not beyond bringing many of the vendors do their best to something else. Because it’s an open ensure shoppers are not limited to market for the kind of stuff you can the same old stuff. sell in here. Some places restrict you Rick and Chris Borchers have been coming to the Polk Flea Market to just antiques or whatever. It’s kind of a wide open space here,” he said. out of Salem for over a decade. And that’s one of the keys to “I like the venue. I’ve made it my Polk’s success as a flea market, own. I’ve started right here,” Rick according to manager Deb Thomas. said, indicating the table in front of She’s seen many established flea him. “And now I’ve got this whole markets come and go in Oregon end of the building (sweeping an since she took over Polk County’s arm around the side hallway of the main building). We’re getting a bet- in 2000. One of the reasons for their demise, she said, is they went away ter crowd every time here.” from what worked. Anticipation keeps the Borchers “Some of the other flea markets and their regulars coming back now tried to specialize, like antiques for a decade. only or radio shows only. I’ve never “We have regular customers who come back every month because we never have the same stuff two times See MARKET, page A11 By DAVID HAYES I-O Editor

A vendor at the Polk Flea Market offers a wide variety of pewter boxes, perfect as a gift for upcoming Valentines Day. Photo by David Hayes

IN THIS ISSUE Obituaries Public Records Classifieds Commentary Sports Calendar Briefs Flashback Puzzles

A5 A2 A6 A8 A9 A10 A10 A11 A12

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