Folsom approves blacksmith expansion in Historic District

City officials approved the Folsom Forge blacksmith expansion at The Square on Wool Street in the Folsom Historic District last week. The city council approved a design review and environmental pass Feb. 10 to build a 420 square-foot new blacksmith forge annex building and exterior modifications to Ashland Station at 115 Wool Street, formerly Pioneer Village. Although unregistered, the existing 19th-century Ashland building is a very likely historic candidate, staff said. The mining community of Ashland, also known as Russville, Big Gulch and Bowlesville, was once on the opposite river shore. Reportedly dating to the 1860s, the Ashland building was previously across the American River by the now Folsom Pavilions center. The nearby old Sacramento, Placer and Nevada Railroad line ran about 11 to 19 miles to Auburn, according to local lore and archives. While a Folsom Historical Society blog last year disputed the Ashland building as a train station – citing no mention of it in the 1860s Folsom Telegraph newspaper – the society acknowledges the building is historic and dates to the pioneer era. The new Blacksmith Forge Annex will provide more storage and outdoor space for blacksmith demonstrations and classes, explained applicant Jeremy Bernau in the report. The Folsom Forge is a National Blacksmith Curriculum Training Center. A six-hour "Introduction to Blacksmithing" class is offered for $50, and students should be at least 13 years old, staff said. During the Feb. 4 Historic District Commission meeting, the board modified conditions to allow a standing seam metal roof for the new annex. The property is within the Sutter Street Sub Area with a historic district mixed use. One condition clarifies the agreement is operational and does not create an obligation on the city to proceed and will not have an environmental impact, staff said. Modifications to Ashland Station include removal of a non-original door and roof cover, reopening an original entrance, repairing an existing large wooden cargo door and a new deck in front. Damage to the wooden cargo door is proposed to be replaced with "like for like," historically compatible materials, officials said. Ashland Station is not a listed historic resource on the national, state or local historic registers. However, the building is potentially eligible for listing on the state registry, based on feedback provided by the State Historic Resources Commission, staff explained. Registry then provides access to grants and tax breaks, authorities said. "Overall, the intent is to rehabilitate the structure in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's standards for the treatment of historic properties," said Folsom Community Development Director Pam Johns in the report to the council. Meanwhile, the city council also appointed Amanda Ross on Feb. 10 to replace Matt Herrera as a Planning Commission representative to the Historic District Commission for the remainder of the term ending in December.