"Arena to Madison" - late 1880's
Thomas and Julia McGilligan came to Wisconsin in 1820. They farmed 80 Acres off Coon Rock Road in Arena Wisconsin. We think that during this period the McGilligan family met, or new the family of Frank Lloyd Wright. They didn’t do furniture business together for many years but they all lived very close together.
In the late 1800’s their son Edward Thomas McGilligan (Proprietor of the Wisconsin House in Arena WI 1882) and family left the homestead in Iowa County moving to Madison where he had long career at the Madison Water Utility. Their home was located at 447 W. Doty Street Madison and is a registered historic place for it’s style.
Gustav Emil Oscar Janeck
The furniture story really starts with Gustav Emil Oscar Janeck. Gustav began his furniture career in Madison at the Darwin Clark Furniture Company in early Madison. Darwin Clark was one of the earlier Madison Pioneers settling shortly after the Pecks.
Gustav Emil Oscar Janeck started as a clerk and worked his way up to upholsterer before breaking out on his own.
Janeck Furniture and Upholstery
Gustav Emil Oscar Janeck’s son, Emil Oscar Janeck, a veteran of the Spanish America War, picked up the trade from his father and at some point they opened the Janeck Furniture and Upholstery store. on State Street.
Most likely Jack and Thomas McGilligan got their feet wet in the furniture industry by “working at their uncle’s shop” on State Street.
Their mother Fran’s sister, Margaret Rosella Rupp, was married to Emil Oscar.
It has worked this way for many years.
All 5 of John McGilligan’s grandchildren spent a little time “working at the shop”. At least 10 of Tim Gavigan ‘s friends worked for Buffy McGilligan Stevens in the 80’s and 90. Someone knows someone, family or friends and the next thing you know they are working at McGillgans!
"Baily Furniture Company" 1900's
John (Jack) and Thomas began their furniture sales careers working at the Baily Furniture Company located at 412 State Street.
Jack, worked his way through the ranks achieving a Vice President position and his brother Thomas was Secretary and Treasurer. Thomas moved to Iowa where he continued in the furniture business.
"J.E. McGilligan Furniture" ~1917
"The Furniture Repair Shop" - West Washington Ave. - 1920's
By 1920 the shop had moved south to West Washington Avenue. Near the intersection of Park and West Wash. The 1920 Capitol Times (below) shows the shop at 823 West Washington Ave (Now Brittingham Park). The correct location could be near the corner of West Washington ave. and Bedford St. Stories have it that John McGilligan Jr. used to play at the Joyce Funeral Home next to his father’s shop.
"The Furniture Repair Shop" - 435 West Main Street
" Employees & Growth..... "
"Family.."
In 1943, a year before his death, Jack retired and his oldest son, John Edward Jr., took over the business after working at a downtown Madison service station named the Collage Service station. It was located on University Avenue where Bill’s Key shop is today (2024).
William “Bill” McGilligan, who had been off at WWII, returned to Madison in the late 1940’s and joined his brother until the mid 1970’s.
"Westward ho"
"Moving back to the West... "
"Moving further West out University Avenue"
In the mid 1970’s McGilligan’s moved further out University Avenue to the Gateway Mall in Middleton, Wisconsin. Here they continued to grow by expanding into commercial markets the included restaurants and medical facilities. At the same time McGilligan’s was still continuing the family tradition of custom furniture upholstry.
It was here in the Middleton location that Jack McGilligan’s great grandsons Dan Gavigan and Brad Stevens joined Buffy & Jim Stevens to continue the McGilligan family tradition.
Dan and Brad all studied under Madison’s best upholsterer Gail Yanke. Gail upholstered for McGilligans thru 4 generations… Jack, John, Buffy, & Brad.
Tim Gavigan, John’s oldest grandchild, worked at McGilligan’s briefly in 1983 and then again in 1988 until eventually pursuing his own business venture OldCabin Internet Services. “OldCabin” has designed, hosted, & maintained the McGilligan’s web site since 1998.
"McGilligan's Interiors Inc. - 5262 Verona Road"
In 1984 McGilligan’s Interiors Inc. moved from their Middleton location to 5262 Verona Road on Madison’s far southwest side (currently occupied by the “Roughing It In Style” Furniture Store).
During the ’80s and ’90s McGilligans expanded to include Pennsylvania House & other fine furniture lines.
McGilligan’s was no longer just an upholstery shop, they were complete home furnishing specialists. A large interior design staff combined with a top notch upholsterers creates furniture that will last lifetimes.
During this time Buffy’s husband Jim Stevens operated a Medical Cabinet Design Facility Design Tech Limited.
Patricia (McGilligan) Gavigan Buffy’s sister joined the family business and worked there until 2004. Pat’s son Joseph worked for a period at both Design Tec and McGilligan but decided to leave for a successful career with the Intel corporation.
John McDermott, Rosemary and Mac’s son joined McGilligan’s during this time. John left to pursue other ventures.
Chris Stevens Buffy’s youngest son like Brad, began working at “the shop” doing odd jobs for as long as their mother had owned McGilligan’s. In the ’90s Chris began his “real furniture career”. Like his grandfather John & his cousin Tim Gavigan, after a brief career working at Madison service station, Chris began working at McGilligan’s. Just like everyone does he started by doing deliveries/pick-ups, sweeping, and stripping the furniture (preparing it for the upholsterers).
When Chris transitioned from the back-room to selling Pennsylvania House furniture in the showroom he found his real calling….. furniture sales. Chris left McGillgan’s in 1999 to work as a Midwest Territory Manager for DeCoro, President at Violino Ltd., and currently President of Urban Chic Upholstery.
From time to time Chris and McGilligan’s collaborate on various furniture projects.
"Back to Traditions - McGilligan's"
2014 McGilligan’s moved to a location at Commerce Park in Fitchburg Wisconsin. Co-owned by John, Jr.’s grandchildren Brad Stevens, Dan Gavigan. During this time McGilligans continued to product custom furniture for Madison homes, restaurants, bars and more. Working with Brad’s father Jim Stevens of Design Tech Ltd. McGilligan’s became an exclusive designer and upolsterers for the Culvers restaurant booth systems.
"Into the Future..."
In December of 2014 “McGilligan’s” turned a new page and moved to 2912 Syene Road Fitchburg, Wisconsin where they are contined the McGilligan family tradition of Custom furniture and Upholstry.
"Embrace the Past..."
In May 2017 “McGilligan’s” turned 100 yrs. old. With our one hundred year anniversary come more changes. Brad Stevens has sold his Stickley furniture store (Stevens Design) and has rejoined McGilligans in a more active capacity.
"Welcome back Jack..."
In December of 2018 McGilligan’s “the shop” closed. The owners Dan Gavigan and Brad Stevens decided to hang up their tack hammers. Some retired and some moved on.
Good news!! Tim Gavigan with the help of his daughter Mary Katherine, and Kunga Sangpo (Upholsterer from old shop) have decided to keep the business going at a small scale.
