GUILDERLAND — “An Evening with Jim Moran: Questions and Answers” will be the Guilderland Historical Society’s program at its Nov. 17 meeting. Jim Moran has been an active blacksmith since 1972.

Since that time many blacksmiths have formed groups to share the craft and learn from one another and he has been actively involved. He will discuss the process of forming iron or steel into useful tools or art, using the same craft that has been used for thousands of years.

He invites the public to bring in an item of iron or steel that you may have questions about. Moran says, “I welcome your questions and hope to provide coherent answers. You may be very surprised to learn what you actually have!”

Jim Moran has been a member of Artist and Blacksmiths Association of North America for many years and was president of the Northeast Blacksmiths in the past. He formed the Capital District Blacksmiths Association in 2001 and is the group's leader and most active member.

Moran was employed by state’s Department of Environmental Conservation as an environmental engineer with a degree in chemical engineering. He is currently the resident blacksmith at the Normanskill Farm where he demonstrates blacksmithing to the schoolchildren of Albany. He resides in Delmar.

The public is invited to join historical society members for the free program and social hour following at 7:30 p.m. at the Mynderse-Frederick House at 451 Route 146 in Guilderland Center. For more information, call (518) 861-8582.

Editor’s note: Mary Ellen Johnson is the vice president of the Guilderland Historical Society.