A local woodworker recently celebrated a major milestone for his business, marking 50 years of quality craftsmanship for Waterloo and the surrounding community.

Joe Dugan has always lived in Waterloo. Graduating from Gibault Catholic High School, he joined the navy and served for four years in Vietnam.

On returning from his service, he promptly jumped head first into a craft that he said he had been interested in for some time given his admiration of various cabinetry and other furniture.

“When I got out, I got started in my business and gradually learned more and more as the years went on,” Dugan said. “I didn’t know everything at the beginning. I got a lot of knowledge from old-timers, craftsmen in the area. I studied on my own.”

As Dugan explained, he was effectively self-taught, though there were plenty of folks experienced in woodworking and carpentry to work with him and help guide him along the way.

Dugan, along with friends and family, celebrated the 50th anniversary of Dugan’s Woodworking at the Waterloo VFW Hall Saturday afternoon.

Pictures of his work over the years filled several tables along one end of the VFW’s lower bar, depicting a wealth of cabinets, tables and other furniture with fine finishes and flourishes.

Additionally, Dugan recently renovated the lower bar counter at the VFW.

As far as major examples of his previous work, the main job that stood out to him was collaborating with a fellow craftsmen on a custom bar for a tavern in Columbia.

He recalled working on that 38 foot bar for a year, though, unfortunately, it was never fully completed. He expressed his wish to have at least gotten a couple pictures of his and his peer’s work.

Dugan also recalled working on a house out in the county for around 16 months, putting in 10 hour days through every week to get the job done.

When it comes to titles for his profession, Dugan didn’t seem too partial to woodworker or carpenter. He instead leaned toward a more personal “master cabinet maker and finisher.”

He described his overall satisfaction with the work he’s done over the years.

“The job is very, very fulfilling,” Dugan said. “When I get up in the morning, I look forward to going to work because every job is different. You never do two jobs the same. They’re always different. It’s enjoyable, working.”

Looking to the future, Dugan said that he’s hardly finished himself after 50 years, but he lamented the lack of fellow craftspeople in the community.

He pointed out that most of the mentors and colleagues he’s worked with over the years have passed away, with no one seemingly interested in picking up the torch.

Dugan said he’s attempted to apprentice a handful of individuals, though his efforts weren’t very effective.

“Nobody grasped this and went forward with it,” Dugan said. “To learn somebody everything that I know, it would take many many years, to break somebody in, to get them established.”

He further expressed his disappointment that the community might well be without a local craftsmen when he steps away from his tools.

“It will be a great loss for the people that need it now and then,” Dugan said. “It will be a big loss for the community.”

Dugan doesn’t plan on retiring just yet, however, as he’s looking forward to trying to teach his son some of his tricks in the near future.

“I’m pretty much at the stage where I can take off when I want to, but I still enjoy what I do,” Dugan said. “My son that’s in the service right now is going to retire from the Marine Corps in 2025, and I’m gonna teach him a lot of the different things in woodworking.”

For more information on Dugan’s Woodworking, visit duganswoodworking.net or call 618-719-4797.