By Joseph Montebello
It takes some effort to find Battle Hill Forge’s workspace but once there, it is another world. Tucked away underneath a building in Millerton it is chock-a-block with metal, machinery, and some amazing finished pieces. Israel “Izzy” Fitch started his business in 2004 and has been in demand ever since and is known for his innovative quality metalwork and design.
Fitch comes from a family of artisans and craftsmen and began playing with metal as a child and created his first piece at nine years old—a small metal boat—that he sold to his grandmother. He attended Community School in Maine and worked at various jobs, still maintaining his interest in metallurgy. While he never studied it per se, he seemed to have a natural instinct to working with it.
“I took a welding class for a weekend and worked with a blacksmith, where I learned how to make chains,” says Fitch.
Eventually Fitch joined forces with Willy Blass and Jeff Vandam and opened a shop in Falls Village. The former occupant of the space had been Battle Hill Equipment, so they kept a portion of the name and Battle Hill Forge was born. Nine years ago the company moved to Millerton. Fitch hasn’t had an idle moment since. From near and far people find him and come to have him create something special. Each piece requires hours of intense work that includes cutting, welding, riveting, and hammering metal by hand to create the perfect finished piece.
“Someone contacts me, usually after seeing my work on Google, and I meet them to see what they are looking for,” explains Fitch. “I don’t sketch myself, but I work with sketch artist Chris Barrett, who works for Lego and he puts the idea on paper.”
From that sketch Fitch goes on to work his metal magic. Much of the work is garden-related, from hand-forged, custom fencing made of wrought iron and steel, tripod tuteurs, and structures for garden plants. Be it steel, bronze, brass, or copper, Fitch creates masterful, one-of-a-kind pieces that keep clients coming back for more. And there have been many major installments, including an extraordinary gate at the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, a butterfly sculpture bench at the Sharon Audubon Center, and unique abstract sculptures in steel and hand blown glass orbs for a restaurant in Chicago.
Fitch has done work for many high-end designers, such as Bunny Williams who is an ardent fan. He prefers crafting pieces that do not have to be anchored in concrete.
“I like the idea of mobility,” says Fitch. “We created an arch that was ten feet high and 11 feet wide and totally moveable. It gives people the freedom to play with the piece.”
There is very little that Fitch has not or cannot create. But he would love to design and install a bridge. And there is little doubt that someday he will. —battlehillforge.com