William Noel, a Bonneauville blacksmith in the early years of the 20th Century is shoeing a horse in this photograph. Like most of the community he was Catholic. Like most blacksmiths he became hard of hearing and subconsciously compensated by talking louder. Elderly interviewees for this work laughed a bit as they recalled being able to "hear everything he said when he visited the church confessional."

In 1915 "The Farm Journal Illustrated, directory of Adams County," lists Mr. Noel as the only Bonneauvillian of fifty blacksmiths in the county.