Haliburton County's Early Personalities :
Object Number:
999.31.4
Object Number:
Print, Photographic
The Story:
Blacksmith William "Billy" Baker (1885-1961) came to Haliburton Village from the Irish Line, Guilford Township, in 1927, and took over the Fry blacksmith shop on Oak Avenue. With his forging skills, he served the blacksmith needs of the village and surrounding area until shortly before his death. Son Lloyd "Buck" Baker (1922-2004) helped out in the shop as a young man and specialized in shoeing horses. Here Buck poses at the right in front of his father's shop clutching a sledge hammer and gripping a horse shoe in his tongs. Max McCracken poses at the left with a cant hook, probably made in the shop. Buck's 1927 Chevrolet is in the background. After returning home from overseas service with the army in WWII, Buck became a long time Haliburton barber. Max was killed overseas during the war.
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Max McCracken and Lloyd Max McCracken and Lloyd "Buck" Baker at William Baker's blacksmith shop