Public Invited to Attend Unveiling of Robert McCarthy Memorial on Medfield Day

The public is invited to take part in the unveiling of the memorial to Robert McCarthy at the site of his old Blacksmith Shop on Janes Avenue on Medfield Day.

The memorial, which is also a historical marker making note of the long history of the blacksmith/farrier presence in Medfield, will be dedicated at the Janes Avenue site at 12:30 p.m. during Medfield Day, on Saturday, Sept. 17.

coordinated the monument that will be placed at the site of the former blacksmith shop on Janes Avenue, where McCarthy’s father, John P. McCarthy, had a blacksmith shop from 1920 to 1953, before the younger McCarthy took over and ran it until 1996.

McCarthy was well-known for the quality of his work. McLane purchased McCarthy’s anvil at public auction in 1996 when the blacksmith shop and two other buildings on the site were taken by eminent domain to build the current municipal parking lot. 

The center of the tribute will feature McCarthy’s 225 pound anvil - purchased by the senior McCarthy in 1931 - on which he learned the horseshoeing trade from his father and on which he taught McLane and others.

The Eagle anvil made by Fisher and Norris will be secured to a 6.5-foot granite post which will protrude 18 inches above ground, with a four-foot cement square surround. The cement surround will have a “faux planking” imprint, to represent the floor of a blacksmith shop in which will be imbedded shoes made by McCarthy and everyone who was trained on that anvil. 

“There will be at least five apprentices’ shoes plus two shoes of Bob’s that I just finished cleaning,” said McLane.

The anvil will be dedicated on Medfield Day when members of the farrier community, including four of McCarthy’s former apprentices and the McCarthy family will be present.