You don't need fireworks to have a blast on the Fourth of July as an anvil shots into the air at Stuhr Museum.
“That was one way the blacksmith in town could have his own personal fireworks,” explained Renae Hunt who manages operations at the museum.
Randy Dack kept the tradition alive and now this Independence Day his legacy lives on.
Stuhr Museum lost its much-loved blacksmith recently. In many ways, he was the face of the museum.
“He’s iconic on a lot of posters advertising Grand Island,” explained Executive Director Chris Hochstetler.
He also forged countless horseshoes for members of the military after his son Adam was deployed.
And on July Fourth, he was the one to start the pyrotechnics.
Now his boys light the fuse.
“In February we lost him so this was a way to give back to him, the museum,” said Jerod Dack.
Adam added, “It's good to have grandkids here to watch something our dad, that we spent years watching him do.”
For 25 years Randy operated the blacksmith shop at this living history museum.
“It's an art that's being lost to time, not a lot of people doing it,” Adam said.
Railroad town is a little quieter without a full time blacksmith.
“People enjoyed hearing the ringing of the anvil so that's missed,” Renae Hunt said.
Dack and his wife Sarah were both fixtures at the museum for decades.
Adam, Jerod, and Brandon have their own careers but hope to spark interest in their father's passion.
“Just carry it on for him,” Jerod said.