Sean ScheidtFar north of San Francisco sits the exquisite oceanside town of Eureka, California, known as one of California’s best-kept secrets for its giant redwoods, remote ocean landscapes and ornate timeless Victorian homes. The town also serves as home to about 25,000, including woodworking extraordinaire Eric Hollenbeck, a self-taught master woodworker who’s built his life around preserving and restoring buildings and items of the past. Hollenbeck is the delightful subject of Magnolia Network’s newest series The Craftsman.
The nine-episode series begins on Magnolia Network Tuesday, March 15 at 9/8c with two back-to-back episodes and will run through Tuesday, May 3. The series will also be available on the network’s streaming platform discovery+.
Born and raised in Eureka, the 70-plus-year-old Hollenbeck has spent the last four decades restoring historic relics through his family-owned business Blue Ox Millworks, which he started with a $300 bank loan. Cameras follow Hollenbeck and his family as he shows viewers the fascinating craftsmanship and self-worth that goes into preserving historic pieces. Episodes explore the history and restoration techniques needed to preserve things like finials and corbels to a trolley car from the 1880s, a call box in the historic Carson Mansion and much more.
Unable to read or write, Hollenbeck dropped out of school in his teens and headed into Eureka’s woods for work, where he forged for equipment and tools that essentially built his expansive workshops he uses today. With his pipe in hand, Hollenbeck chatted with us about this somewhat lost craft and why it’s so important to him to pass along his talent to the next generation.
“I’ve worked with my hands because I can’t read, and I can’t spell,” he shares. “I was born with a handicap, but life gives each one of us a compensator — something that we’re extra good at — and for me, it was working with my hands. That was my compensator.”
Hollenbeck describes his mind as mechanical. He’s gifted with a talent that helps him visualize how things work. In the third grade, his first real big wood project was with his best buddy Dennis, where they built a boat. Laughing, Hollenbeck recalls, “We went out and painted the whole boat with tar, and that’s how we made it semi-waterproof.”
If there’s one thing Hollenbeck would like younger generations to take away from the series it’s that you can start from nothing and build your own success.
“Forty-nine years later, we’re still here,” he says. “There was never any money to go buy equipment, so I either had to find it for free laying in the woods or find something that I could trade labor for. I could make them something and trade for it. I had to get the old junk nobody else wanted and then bring it and refurbish it. I could take it apart, see how it worked, see what was broken and make a new part for it and put it back together, paint it and then teach myself how to use it.”
Hollenbeck’s workshops are as historic as the pieces he works on. Viewers will be enthralled and educated on not just the process of restoration but on the history of the equipment he uses. In the end, it’s Hollenbeck that is the true treasure.
I absolutely enjoy this show! I grew up in a small logging town in Western Washington and used to watch woodwork being crafted like this by my Dad’s friends. Mr. Hollenback has such a gift to share this. Hooked on this show!
My wife constantly watch Magnoloia Network every day. The Craftsman is brilliant. Eric is the MAN! Best show on the Network full of great shows. Kudos!
This show is brilliant. Eric is the man! We watch Magnolia network all day and night and The Craftsman is the best show!
What a genius, and with soul. He speaks with his heart. I would love to know half of what he’s forgotten and I’d be a master craftsman. Love the show and hope they can produce another season to capture more of Eric’s spirit and craft. He is one in a million and his knowledge must be shared, and he has the personality to do it in such a humble way. He is a treasure.
Mr Hollenbeck is a treasure, an amazing storyteller, a master craftsman, a master human being.
I live in central illinois. My wife is a Hollenbeck. Her dad is wade Hollenbeck, and his dad is also wade. Grandpa Wade’s siblings went into foster care. We are trying to figure out if you’re related to the Hollenbeck’s in illinois. Thanks
Mr Hollenbe k has such a soothing voice. I really enjoy the show. I know what it feels like to be told you are (whatever, fill in the blank]. Your story touched my heart,
Wonderful show. Love the work he does. Perfection in woodworking. Beautiful!!
Love love love this show ❤️
Absolutely love this show! What a teacher about life and of course woodworking.
I didn’t think I’d like a woodworking show necessarily, but was immediately enthralled with the man and his story. He’s his own genius despite his limitations. He’s wise. Endearing. Love his family being included. I’m hooked. What a brilliant, humble soul.
I have a 109 year old roll top desk that was my father’s when he was young. Needs alot of work and repair. Need someone who can do the work.
My Grandpa came to this country at the age of 17 – his mother sent him and his brother to escape WWl. He never learned to read but was a master at carpentry. As a child I loved to spend time with him in his workshop in the basement where he created all sorts of cornices and radiator covers for the homes in our neighborhood. I would spend hours with a block of wood he gave me, planing it by hand with these beautiful old tools he had, making wooden curls! We also liked to watch cowboy shows on tv, it was the early years of tv. He could not read the TV guide so together we made a little book out of 7 pieces of paper I stapled together, numbering the pages 1 thru 7 for the days of the week, then each page had 2 columns – one for time of day with the corresponding column for the channel the cowboy show came on. Hoppy, Roy & Dale, Sky King, etc. Simple days, and glorious memories.
I too was born and raised in Fortuna. My mom worked for the building department for years in Eureka. I love my redwoods. I love your wisdom and the history.
I love hearing him speak, he is so wise..l
Man this show has some soul. What a cool thing to see.
Wonderful show ! This man is very talented & soulful. My father had to quit school in 8th grade, could barely read or write. But he was extremely smart, could build or fix just about anything . He also was one heck of a farmer ! Enjoyed this show very much & Mr. Hills Beck’s story.
Mr. Hollenbeck
What a wonderful show! I not only enjoyed the projects he worked on, but also his stories and memories. I look forward to seeing more episodes.
Wow just happened to fall on to episode 1 and became a real fan.. It is now on my Can’ miss list.!
I thoroughly enjoyed this show! Mr Hollenbeck’s story was touching and having him humbly share his gifts with us made me so glad that I watched. The world needs more people like him and we need more stories like this. Thank you, Magnolia Network! God bless the Hollenbeck family.
I just watched the first two episodes of The Craftsman. What a beautiful surprise to meet a man who has such a reverence for wood. My spirit feels joy.
I was hoping to see a woodworking craftsman, what I saw was a guy trying to reinvent woodworking, all the projects he did and made it sound like it can only be done in his shop. I would like to see more of the old tools work and less of him talking like he invented carpentry.
I guess this show is not for you. Eric has soul along with being a true craftsman.