70 Years of Crafting Sets Rex Harral Apart

Craig Ogilvie, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

WILBURN – Rex Harral was forced to learn a trade early in life. Orphaned at age 9, he taught himself the basics of blacksmithing during his early teens. "Dad was a blacksmith, so it just seemed natural for me to pick up the trade, using the tools he left behind," Rex says.

Some 70 years later, Rex is still producing fine crafts from metal, wood and leather. He was a charter member of the Arkansas Craft Guild in 1962, and featured in the National Geographic Society's authoritative 1975 publication, "The Craftsman in America."

"Rex is the epitome of the true Ozarks craftsman," notes Mary Kay Vincent, executive director of the Guild. "He has pursued a love of crafts since boyhood, and that is quite rare."

By the time the Great Depression hit, Rex was producing ironwork and repairing tools for area farmers. "I was eager to learn every type of skill that came along," the 82-year-old master notes. "The first time I watched a wood-lathe, I knew that I had to have one."

During the early 1930s, Rex was among hundreds of young Arkansas men enrolled into the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was assigned to Camp 1711 at Pocahontas (Randolph County). His blacksmith and carpentry skills were quickly noted and Rex was soon teaching and supervising others his own age and older. He also earned the rank of sergeant.

"The CCC workshops provided me with all the tools that I couldn't afford back home," Rex recalls. He honed his carpentry skills and mastered each of the shop machines, especially the power wood-lathe. After leaving the CCC program, Rex headed up a crew to build rural schoolhouses in Randolph County then served a hitch in military service.

He reared a family on the 120-acre farm purchased in 1943. Located two miles from his birthplace and about a mile east of Wilburn, it has also been the site of Rex's workshop for almost 60 years.

"My original plans were to become a farmer and carpenter," Eex explains. "But local folks remembered that I was a blacksmith and wouldn't let me do much carpentry work." In addition to repairing plows, making tools and replacing handles, Rex also built several complete wagons.

When the Arkansas Craft Guild was established, Rex was among the first to join. He had been experimenting with wood and iron decorative pieces for homes, including wrought-iron fireplace sets, fancy woodturnings, and hand tools. All proved very popular at craft shows and festivals. He later served as a Guild board member and was manager of the Ozark Frontier Trail Festival Craft Show at Heber Springs for many years.

During the 1960s, Rex and "Ozarks Mountaineer" magazine editor Clay Anderson became good friends. Anderson, who died in 1993, featured Rex's craftsmanship in many articles and even persuaded Rex to author several short stories on pioneer folkways that appeared in the "Mountaineer." He continues to write a column for his home county newspaper.

Rex was once a familiar figure at craft festivals throughout the Ozarks. His trademark bib overalls and matching train-engineer cap, plus his tall lanky frame, made it easy to remember the talented man from Wilburn, Arkansas. In more recent years, Rex has preferred the nearby craft shows, including the Arkansas Folk Festival at Mountain View in April and the Historic Arkansas Museum (formerly the Arkansas Territorial Restoration) spring show, which has invited him to 26 consecutive annual fairs.

Rex still fires up the forge regularly to produce commissioned decor work and unique hand tools for woodcarvers, plus commercial orders. However, much of his attention is now focused on decorative wood products produced on the lathe. He also renders nature carvings upon request, or for his show displays.

Using a wide assortment of native woods, including oak, walnut, gum, sycamore, hackberry, elm and others, Rex creates intricate laminated bowls, platters, vases, candleholders, lamp bases, and other items. He also creates breadboards and other colorful kitchen accessories. The natural one-piece hardwood bowls and woodturnings also remain popular.

When not in his shop, Rex may be found plowing his garden or cornfield with his trusty team of horses. He has never owned a farm tractor.

Persons wanting more information about Rex Harral crafts or the Arkansas Craft Guild, contact the general offices in downtown Mountain View at 870-269-3897. The 250-member cooperative, featuring the work of award-winning Arkansas crafters, has galleries in Eureka Springs, Van Buren, Hot Springs and Mountain View.