New Orleans Blacksmith Restores Historic Ironwork

Darryl Reeves is restoring the fence in front of the Cabildo in New Orleans. The project uses construction plans that date back to the 1790s.

Reeves operates Andrew's Welding and Blacksmith Shop. He is one of the few practitioners in the city who still forge iron by hand. His grandfather was also a blacksmith, and Reeves recalls passing through the shop as a boy to watch the work.

"We used to just pass through and just watch these guys beat on this metal with the sparks and all," Reeves said. "I think that had a lot of influence with me enjoying to work with metal."

The shop produces a variety of items, including iron hinges and hand-forged designs such as metal leaves. Reeves also creates his own ironworking tools. He has restored historic ironwork across the city, citing the Cabildo fence as a key example of preserving the past.

"That's learning from the past. That's given a conversation with the person that actually fabricated it," Reeves said.

A younger generation is entering the trade under Reeves' guidance. Karina Roca, who moved to New Orleans from Boston, has worked in the shop for five years. She is currently working toward a master's degree in historic preservation at Tulane University.

Roca said she decided to study under Reeves after seeing a PBS program about him more than 10 years ago. "Well, I've always secretly wanted to be an iron worker," Roca said. "And then I saw a PBS program on Darryl Reeves over 10 years ago at this point, and I was like, 'Yep, I'm going to study under that guy.'"

Roca noted that the work helps maintain the city's distinct aesthetic. "It works in so many ways to kind of keep this aesthetic of New Orleans alive," she said. "It's very Spanish. It's very West African. It's very French. So it's sort of this symbol, this beacon of a space where all of these cultures have come together for centuries now."