Boys began to go to the Barber
Shop almost as soon as they were able to walk. The first
thing that strikes you about the Shop is the very
pleasant smell of hair tonics and shaving lotion. The
Shop is a large long room. Along one side, away from the
entrance door, there are 3 or 4 big chrome and leather
barber chairs. The wall behind them is covered with
mirrors. The end wall has 2 or 3 very large windows that
can be opened wide in the summer. There are several
large ceiling fans overhead. Most of the Hall was not
air-conditioned in the summer. Steam radiators were used
in the winter.
In the 1940’s and early 1950’s, Mr . Paul Brown
officiated over the Barber Shop. There were several
other barbers from time to time but I do not remember
much about them. Mr. Brown was a friendly man with a
kind word and story for everyone. He was continually
joking with the customers and sharing stories with them.
As a child going to the Barber Shop, was like going to a
favorite uncle’s house and getting a special treat. Mr.
Brown had lots of patience with little boys. He had a
small board that he laid across the arms of the barber
chair for them so that they would be high enough to
reach them. he carried on a running conversation with
the boys just as if they were adults.
I have strong memories of Mr. Brown giving my Dad a
shave with the old style straight razor that was in use
at the time. Mr. Brown approached the shave almost like
he was going to do battle with the beard. My Dad was
reclined horizontally in the chair. and Mr. Brown first
applied hot towels to his face. Then he lathered up his
whiskers using a brush and lots of shaving soap. While
the beard was being softened up, he prepared his main
weapon, the straight razor, in a little ritual. He
opened the folding razor, it looked almost like a sword
to me, then he ran the blade back and forth very quickly
on the big leather strap that hung on the edge of the
chair. Now he was ready for the attack.
With great deftness and skill, he shaved off the
whiskers. He did it quickly, using the exceedingly sharp
razor. One miscue and he could have taken off part of an
ear or did other damage but he never did.
As a child, one of my dreams was to get a real shave
like that by a real barber and a real razor. Alas,
however, times change and so far that has escaped me.
There was no sign in sheet or other formal way to keep
track of the waiting customers and I don’t think there
was any such thing as “making an appointment”.
Sometimes, there might be 20 or so men and boys waiting
but Mr. Brown and the other barbers always knew who was
next.
I don’t think that the inside of the Shop ever changed
when I was growing up. There were always the regular
chairs for the customers and favorite magazines like Field
and Stream and Life. There was one special
picture on the walls that I remember as a child. It was
of several dogs, dressed up and seated around a table
playing cards. It wasn’t high art but it seemed to fit
the Barber Shop exactly.
This web site has been started as a public service to share the story of Pacolet.