Robert (Bud) Garrett – 1916-1987
Rolley hole, a marbles game involving teams, is regionally played in the Upper Cumberland River Valley. Garrett was a popularizer of the game and in the 1940’s he invented a marble-making machine. His marbles, while not always completely smooth, were prized for their beauty and durability. Garrett built a rolley hole yard in Celina, Tennessee. The marble pictured here, a 1 inch quartz marble, was made for Garrett’s personal use. Marbles of this design are commonly referred to as “flint” by the maker and players. Garrett was also known for his country blues singing and playing. He lived in Free Hill in Clay County.
This information is from the Tennessee Arts Commission website.
The photo above is from the Tennessee State Library and Archives collection of an unidentified men setting up a Rolley Hole marble yard on Bud Garrett’s property in Free Hill, 1987.