100-year-old toymaker draws large crowd to Garden Grove workshop, sells out of toys

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 100-year-old toymaker in Orange County drew a large crowd to his workshop over the weekend and sold out all his hand-made toys.

Harold Yoak, or Hal, converted the garage at his Garden Grove home into a toy workshop to create unique wood toys and a store front to sell his creations.

Hal's workspace is filled with tools, paint and wood. He is surrounded by colorful toys: anything from dancing ducks, toy cars and helicopters to celebratory noisemakers and dinosaurs on wheels.

"I used to make cabinets for kitchens and things like that," Hal said. "I would do repair work. I did an awful lot of repair work. But like you say, you get tired or you get old. One of the two."

Hal's career in woodworking began in Ohio, where he was born. He also served in the Navy in the 1940s, taking part in Operation Magic Carpet, helping repatriate millions of American servicemen after World War II. He then became a schoolteacher. When he moved to California, he continued his teaching career at Pacifica High School.

A 100-year-old toymaker turns his Garden Grove garage into a holiday storefront every year, and everything he creates is made completely by hand.

Through every era of his life, he created works of art with wood.

"Before retirement, I made canes. I'd tell people to collect pictures and the resume of their lifetime, the highlights of their lifetime," Hal said. "Then I'd carve their history in the cane or the walking staffs. I did that for years. I sent them all over the world."

Now, he focuses on toys. This time of year, every weekend, his garage workshop is converted into a Christmas storefront open to the public. He is having his busiest year ever.

"I've got over probably $125 in just tips," Hal said.

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For the last weekend of the year, Hal opened his garage doors to the public so they could buy some of his one-of-a-kind creations.

This time, there was a large crowd, waiting in line to take home something special.

Photos shared with ABC7 show people lined up on the sidewalk and people perusing tables filled with Hal's hand-made toys.

When the weekend was over, Hal had sold out of all his toys.

He sells gifts that give even more to their maker.

"I like doing it. I really do," Hal said.