“The best of the West in the heart of the East”

By: Students in Ms. Benson’s English class Christopher Angelica, Michael Borges, Evan Cartwright, Brandon Cooper, Sara Freericks, Ryan Lindner, Alaina Myers, Kevin Myers, Daniel Rafferty, Shaun Tatka (Editor’s note: On Sunday, April 21, 1957, the dream of a group of young businessmen came to fruition with the opening of Wild West City, their take on a peculiar 1950s obsession with all things Western. From Gunsmoke to Bonanza. From Samuel Colt to Mattel Toys. Western lore and paraphernalia ruled. Today, Wild West City is one of the last vestiges of that phenomenon.) Have you ever been to Wild West City? Well if you have never been there, you should plan a trip. On Wednesday, February 7th, the blacksmith of Wild West City, Andy Drysdale, visited our class. We had a chance to interview Mr. Drysdale. He told our class many interesting facts about the blacksmithing trade and Wild West City. Andy Drysdale has been a blacksmith at many historical places for 23 years. His job is to work with iron and steel. A blacksmith makes objects by using tools to hammer, bend, cut, and shape metal. The metal is heated until it glows red or orange. Some various things that he makes are hinges, latches, wagon parts, utensils, pothooks, and horseshoes. The tools that he uses are forges, anvils, hammers, tongs, vises, and files. Mr. Drysdale became interested in becoming a blacksmith at the age of five because he was very interested in history. His interest went from a hobby to a career. To learn how to become a blacksmith, you must have several years of training with an experienced blacksmith. We learned that this is called an apprenticeship. Mr. Drysdale told us that he read as many books as possible about blacksmithing when learning the trade. This was great advice to us! Andy Drysdale is currently a blacksmith at Wild West City in Byram, New Jersey. We learned a lot of great information about Byram’s Wild West City. Wild West City is New Jersey’s only western heritage theme park. There is a main street that runs through the park that is recreated to look like Dodge City, Kansas in the 1800’s. Here you can visit museums, exhibits, and shops. You can even learn about life on the frontier from many cowboys, town folk, and even a mountain man that roams the town. Twenty-two live action shows are performed daily. In addition, there are train, stagecoach, and pony rides. Also, you can pan for gold, pet animals in the petting zoo, and play miniature golf. A large picnic area is available at Wild West City for your family to take a break and relax. The Silver Dollar Saloon, Frank’s Pizza, and the Golden Nugget are also places where you can purchase refreshments. Many visitors also like to stop by the old-fashion Candy Store, which is filled with great treats such as cotton candy, snow cones, and old fashion candy sticks. There is live western music played in the Golden Nugget for your enjoyment. In addition to Wild West City’s regular programs, various special weekend events are planned throughout the season. We all think that everyone should plan a trip to Wild West City this summer. They are open daily from 10:30 a. m. to - 6 p.m. throughout the summer and are open on the weekends beginning in May. It is a great, affordable place for a family to spend a fun-filled day and step back into the history of the Old West. You will experience historical dramatizations featuring cowboys, horses, and other various programs for children. Be sure to stop by the blacksmith forge and say hello to Andy Drysdale. We are positive that you will have a fantastic day!