Coming to the New World as settlers, William and George Harmer encountered land that was bountiful and extremely fertile. These were the 408 acres received by patent from William Penn in 1682. Today, a small section of this land we know as Ambler.

To assure survival in an unfamiliar land, the Harmers brought with them a supply of seeds, tools and farm implements. Soon after arrival, they erected a small shelter near the junction of present-day Morris Road and Butler Pike. A crude grist mill followed some time later, for processing the grains they were growing. It was at this spot a mill could always be found for the next 200 years.

Recognizing the importance of the horse for survival, the settlers were aware of the value of the blacksmith in caring for the animals. More importantly though, it was the blacksmith who was called on to make and mend the farmers' plows, wheels and many other iron objects essential to farming or mere existence. He was described as "an artisan who shapes and welds iron to produce horseshoes. He also makes or repairs hardware, tools, utensils and other objects." Essentially, he was much like the mechanic of today who keeps your automobile on the road, or your home appliances in working order.

The role of the blacksmith was considered essential for over two hundred years, with many to be found in all rural areas. Locally several were located near the Harmer Mill site, with Thomas Hillwig's shop, at the western edge of the village, believed to have been one of the earliest in the Village of Wissahickon.

Following the Civil War, Jacob Hoover's Blacksmith and Wheelwright Shops were established on the north side of Butler Avenue, between Spring Garden & Ridge. The wheelwright made wagons and carriages, in addition to repairing them. Often, the blacksmith and wheelwright were located side by side, or even in the same building.

Hoover sold his property and business to Alexander Niblock, a member of the same Niblock family well-known in later years for a successful family-operated restaurant at the site of present day Denney Electric. Other blacksmiths to occupy this site were Thomas Gusman, Samuel Hamilton and Arthur Hayden. Alex Niblock operated livery stables here, being succeeded by Charles Gerhart in the 1890's.

Also occupied for years by blacksmiths was the property of John Sheppard at Race Street and Spring Garden. The site since the early 1800's of water-powered mills, including a sawmill and a clover mill, Sheppard had the structure torn down at the turn of the century, replacing it with a two-story building, housing a blacksmith shop on the first floor. Early blacksmiths to occupy this new building were Benjamin F. Meyers, Arthur Hayden and Wesley MacLaughlin, all of whom have many descendants living in the Ambler area today. Arrival of the horseless carriage meant turning this building into a garage for servicing automobiles.

In the western part of the village, early blacksmith Thomas Hillwig was succeeded by Edward Berry who came to Ambler from Conshohocken in 1906. He occupied a stone building on the north side of Butler Avenue, on lands of the Reiff family, later moving across Butler Avenue to Locust Street where he remained for years. He came from a long line of Blacksmiths, his grandfather George W. Berry having operated a shop at Gulph Mills for nearly 50 years. He was succeeded by his son George W. Berry, Jr., father of Edward Berry.

By 1932, the automobile's popularity had forced most blacksmiths out of existence, with Berry's establishment the last to remain in Ambler. In order to survive, he set up his motorized blacksmithing equipment on a truck, which allowed him to take his services right up to the stable door. Said Edward Berry, "I have met the demands of the time and age, and am now prepared to go anywhere in the county to perform blacksmith work."

Curiously enough, in this day of the automobile, Berry's grandson, also named Edward Berry, is pursuing a career as a full-time blacksmith in the vicinity of Boyertown. He thus becomes the fifth generation of Berrys directly involved in blacksmithing, finding enough business to easily fill a long work week.