Irv talks to Albert
| Irv Hartwig | |
|---|---|
| Personal Information | |
| Sex/Gender: | Male |
| Job/Career: | Blacksmith |
| Series Information | |
| Played by: | Richard Jaeckel |
Irv Hartwig was the local blacksmith of the town of Walnut Grove. Irv appeared to be a friendly, kind-hearted man but was actually a stalker and sexual predator who became obsessed with the attractive 15-year-old girl Sylvia Webb.
Irv took to secretly observing her from concealed places. Then one day, when Sylvia was picking flowers in a meadow while walking home from school, Irv ambushed and raped her, wearing a clown mask and knit cap to conceal his identity. Sylvia had become pregnant from the assault.
While Sylvia received no support from her father Hector Webb, who plainly admitted that he blamed her for the assault, Sylvia became very close with Albert Ingalls. As it happens, Albert worked for Irv Hartwig, obviously unaware of his employer's predatory nature. After Sylvia flees her father's cruelty and runs away from home, Albert finds her, and the two plan to elope and care for Sylvia's baby. Desperate for money, Albert attempts to take the money from Irv Hartwig, leaving a note with a promise to pay him back. Hartwig, however, catches Albert in the act. Desperate, Albert begs Hartwig to loan him the money, disclosing his plans and Sylvia's whereabouts in the process.
Having learned where Sylvia is hiding, Irv finds her and approaches, wearing the same disguise he wore during the initial attack. But Sylvia fights back and swings a piece of lumber at her attacker, which knocks him off his feet and dislodges the cap and mask, revealing Irv Hartwig as her attacker. Sylvia attempts to flee, but Hartwig blocks the exit. Seeing no other way out, Sylvia ascends a rickety ladder. Hartwig begins to climb after her, but he is then pulled off the ladder by Albert, who had just arrived. Sylvia then falls from the ladder, suffering critical injury and miscarriage in the process. Hartwig then seizes a piece of lumber and prepares to strike Albert, but is then shot by Sylvia's father, who had just arrived with Charles Ingalls.
As Charles leaves to get Doc Baker to attend to Sylvia, he passes Hartwig's mask and gloves.
Irv Hartwig's fate, whether he died or survived after being shot, is never revealed. Nor is he ever mentioned again. John Carter later became the new Blacksmith.
(Episode 717: Sylvia (Part 1), (Episode 718: Sylvia (Part 2))
Irv Hartwig, in disguise, sexually assaults Sylvia Webb.