Steve Hall, a native of Yancey County, began blacksmithing over 35 years ago. The Flood of 1977 destroyed the shop he and his father used for iron work. Steve went on to study photography and worked for over 12 years as a Licensed Professional Photographer doing commercial photography for large corporations and in the newspaper business. After spending years managing other businesses, in 2004 he decided it was time to get out of the pressures of high-level management and go back to a simpler, more relaxing way of life. He decided to dust off the few tools he had salvaged from the Flood, purchase other specialized equipment and become an ornamental blacksmith.
Steve and his wife, Holly built their wrought iron shop, next to their home in the beautiful South Toe area of Yancey County. This allows Steve to work while enjoying the peace and beauty of the countryside. It's not uncommon to find him stopping and petting one of the family dogs or to find one of the cats sitting a few feet away, watching him work.
A work day can consist of carefully crafting a twist in a candleholder or working complex mathematical equations to complete a railing. Working at a pace he now enjoys, Steve puts both love and precision into each piece of craftsmanship. He specializes in custom work including candleholders, headboards, fireplace screens and fireplace sets, railings and other one-of-a-kind pieces. Steve said, “Even though 12 and 16 hour days are sometimes required to meet deadlines, I enjoy the creativity and satisfaction of working with my hands”.
"I want my work to make people feel good when they see it. I’ve had people tell me they enjoy just relaxing and looking at the flow of the lines. I like to take the old-time traditional blacksmith methods and add my own style to it," said Steve.
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