Blacksmith Jeff Chenatte couldn't believe his eyes when a legend walked through the doors at the Pitt Meadows Museum and Archives last Saturday.

Chenatte was hosting a three-hour introduction to blacksmithing class and was shocked to see John Adolph, who is a well-known retired blacksmith instructor from University of the Fraser Valley.

"Well, I read about this class in the newspaper and I told my wife that I had to come and check him out," said Adolph about Chenatte.

The Maple Ridge resident showed up at the class with his wife Pat, who happily watched her husband come alive with excitement while showing off his skills.

In 1950, at the end of his apprenticeship, Adolph received some advice from his master that he still lives by to this day.

"Steal with your eyes as much as you can steal and nobody can take that away from you, but most importantly, share that knowledge with as many people as you can and you will be rewarded 1,000 times over," he said.

He still does a lot of consulting work even though he retired from Dillanger Construction 16 years ago. He worked there for 40 years.

"I specialize in flame straightening or heat shrinking. In other words, call me the steel whisperer."

Chenatte was thrilled with the turnout, he said. He had eight people registered but 22 people show up.

smclaren@mrtimes.com