Robert Gillihan learned how to make primitive furniture in the Committee of One Hundred's apprenticeship program. This chair is modeled after a wagon seat.
This Ozark Folk Center 50th Anniversary Legacy Photo is in honor of Robert Gillihan.
From Friends of Robert and Mary.
In the fall of 1973, Red Gillihan told his son Robert that they were hiring musicians to play at the Ozark Folk Center. Father and son applied and were hired for daytime and evening performances. The following year, Robert learned how to make white oak baskets from Hershel and Margie Hall who demonstrated the craft in the basket shop at the Folk Center. Robert traveled to the Hall's home to learn the craft.
The next year, Robert left Mountain View to work in Clarksville, Arkansas later returning home to find that his father, Red, Ervin Freeze, and Mary Bloomquist (later Gillihan) were going to travel to Chicago, Illinois, to promote the Ozark Folk Center. When Ervin ended up not being able to go, Robert took his place and the three of them spent the next 10 days entertaining. Robert and Mary sang standard old time tunes that they had both learned in school and Red played LOTS of fiddle tunes!
In 1976, Robert and Mary married and Robert enrolled in the building trades program at the Votechnical school in Melbourne, Arkansas. Later he would use these skills to begin his own handy-man business.
In 1978, Robert received an apprenticeship through the Committee of One Hundred in "primitive" furniture making with master artisan, Les Richardson. During this apprenticeship he not only learned the craft, but filled in for Les at the Folk Center where he demonstrated wood crafting and talked with Park visitors. Also during this year, Robert and Mary auditioned and became contract musicians for the Folk Center evening programs in the large auditorium, now the Ozarks Highland Theater. They played and sang as a duo and many evenings joined Red Gillihan for a set of music. Robert continued in the furniture shop during the summer and built furniture at home in the winter months when the Park was closed. He also peeled hickory bark in the spring to use in the chair seats and backs. This work lasted approximately six years during which Robert represented the Folk Center at shows in St. Louis, Missouri, and Dallas, Texas, as both musician and crafter.
In the 1980s, Robert worked in the Folk Center's Craft Village as the relief person, filling in at all of the shops. Each shop keeper was given a 15 minute break and Robert would cover the shop for them. This gave him the opportunity to learn something about everything from quilts to the foot lathe and he has many stories and memories from this time.
Another apprenticeship from the Committee of One Hundred became available, this time in letter press printing. During the winter months of 1985 or 1986, Robert learned many of the aspects of setting type and printing from Dar Stowe. Robert continued to work in the print shop for the next two years, creating many of the items used at the Folk center as well as many of the notecards and other items sold in the shop.
After 1985, or so, Robert was offered the opportunity to work with Joe Matheson at a new business called the "Village Smithy." He continued to play music with a band called Downstream with Gene Dunaway and Mary Gillihan. Later, Robert and Mary joined with Dave Smith in the trio, Harmony. To this day (2023), this group continues to perform at the Ozark Folk Center State Park and other venues.
Entry by Mary Gillihan with input from Robert Gillihan.
The Committee of One Hundred Tribute Wall recognizes contributions to the preservation of Ozark folk culture.
If you would like to help preserve the folk culture of the Ozarks, consider a
The Committee is made up entirely of volunteers so, except for transaction fees, all of your donation funds music, craft, or the herb gardens and, as a 501c3 entity
your donation is tax deductible!
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