The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-12-30
Caldwell Barber
(Continued From Page One

continued From Page One)
With the exception of a very
short time, the entire 43 years
were spent in this location. He
sold his barber shop to Guy
Schafer and moved to the base
ment rooms in the I.O.OF.
building. His tenure here wasn't
very long, because during a flood
the sewer waters backed up in
the basement and forced his
evacuation.
Zone flood is enough" Gill
said. 1t wasn't long after that
experience he again established
himself in his "old stand", buy
ing the shop back from Shorty"
McElfresh who had recently pur-
chased the shop from Mr.. Schaf-
er.
For the entire 43 years
Henry" worked at the "head
chair" in Gill's barber shop
without ever taking a vacation.
His only vacation occurred three
years ago, when illness forced a
three-months leave from duty"
upon him.
Commenting upon the one
thing that altered the barbering
business more than any one
single thing, was the advent and
the use of the electric clippers.
Gill contends this was a God
send to the poor, lonely barber.
Reminescing over the past 46
years, Henry" recalls the gold
en- era" when it was fashionable
for a man to display his individ-
ual shaving mug and brush at
the local barber shop with his
name and initials identifying the
priced possession. Gill said he
had special shelf "for the
regular trade" who catered to
this bit of tonsorial finery.
Another bit of catering that
proved a boom to the up-to-date
barber shop was the providing
of bath facilities. Henry" noted
this was supported by men en-
ployed at the mines and also
proved very popular during the
time when bathrooms in homes
were quite luxury and natural
ly aided tremendously in retain
ing popular group of the young
men for their barbering trade.
The method of cutting hair
also has changed, according to
Gill. Years ago the barber used
the shears and did a lot of trim
ming. Then it was customary
to ask for trim" instead of a
haircut. Today, the clippers
have speeded up operations, and
have enabled the barber to keep
pace with the trend of making
the male specie look a bit sharp
er.
The yesteryears saw the bar
Der open his place of business
generally around 700 o'clock in
the morning and close when the
last customer was worked out"
Often this was around $50 dur
| ing the week and 1890 on Satur-
day night. Now the BARRIERS have
a scheduled open and closing
time.
Asked when the barbering
business hit an all-time high
Gill remarked strangely after
the two world wars business was
unusually good. However, he did
say the present business is about
the best it has ever been.
Speaking of prices, Henry
started out cutting hair for "25c''
and shaving "l5c." The increase
was slow, moving up to 35c, 40c
soc, 75c and now $I00. At Gilrs,
a new phase of modern barber
ing has been initiated, a haircut
by appointment. The price is
slightly above the regular price
but the convenience it affords
the busy man has proven very
successful and very receptive.
Shaving is practically a thing
of the past. Henry said this was
welcome change After wad-
ing thru some of those tough
whiskers, you felt like you had
done a days work." Gill laugh.
| ingly commented.
Speaking of retiring, Gill had
very little to say. He feels like