Huron woodworker continues family tradition after unique inheritance

HURON — Sean Taylor will be carrying on a family tradition when he sets up his custom framing booth at the upcoming VFW Hobby Fair Oct 7 and 8 in the Women’s Building on the S.D. State Fairgrounds.
His grandfather, master craftsman Ilo Schutt, had traveled from his home in Iowa to Huron for 30 years to share his custom-made frames at the annual Hobby Fair.
When Schutt, who was 95, died last October, it was his final wish that his grandson, also a carpenter, receive all of his tools.
“I started building frames in April this year,” said Taylor, who lives in Huron with his wife, Stephanie, and daughters, Kenzington 9, and Isabella, 3. “Grandpa had a mitre clamp that I use a lot, but his router is old so I upgraded that.”
Taylor has been in carpentry since 1999, working for 605 Sheds in Huron.
Since making room in his workshop for his grandfather’s tools that he obtained last winter, Taylor said he’s launched a side business he calls Memories Custom Frames.
“It’s memories of my grandpa, but you can put your memories in them,” he said.

“I started with picture frames, but I’m expanding,” Taylor added. “I’m making floating shelves and mirrored coat and hat racks.
“I did strictly construction until I got these tools,” he added.
His mother, Marlo Bogh of Huron, said she designed the first picture frame she asked her father to build, featuring eight spots to display baby and senior pictures side-by-side of her four children.
“This was his first multi-frame,” she said. “I sat down and designed it, and he made it for me.”
Her father’s custom-made frames became so popular he began making them full time and loading up the trailer for craft shows throughout Iowa and South Dakota.
“My folks started coming up to our craft shows in the late ‘70s,” Bogh said. “My mom also made stained glass pictures and my dad framed them.”
Taylor said he can make frames of any size. He’s made several for his mother to frame her cross-stitch creations, and he’s also made frames for people to showcase finished jigsaw puzzles.
He generally uses oak or pine wood, and distresses the wood to make it look antique or charred.
“I will use any wood someone wants,” Taylor said.
The VFW Hobby Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Along with custom frames, the Hobby Fair will also feature a variety of crafts, jewelry, doll clothes, doilies, crocheted and tatted items, homemade dog treats and yard decorations. Next year, the VFW Hobby Fair will celebrate 50 years.

Photo by Crystal Pugsley of the Plainsman
Sean Taylor of Huron holds a frame he is constructing using tools he inherited from his grandfather, the late Ilo Schutt. His grandfather sold his frames at the annual VFW Hobby Fair for 30 years, and Taylor will continue the tradition at this year’s event Oct. 7-8 at the Women’s Building on the S.D. State Fairgrounds.