A shave for a dime and a haircut for 15 cents...those were the good ole days. The surroundings and barber shop quaters long, long ago may not have been so sanitary, but most of the patrons had their own shaving mug and brush at the shop. High upon a shelf sat a row of mugs with the persons name written on it. The barber took down his customers mug and placed it back after shaving the customer with his own soap and brush.

John Hall, owner and operator of the first barber shop in Harlan, didn't have much training but actual experience acquired him the name of being "an extra good barber."

The shop was located near Central Street several feet back from the corner. The 14 by 16 foot boxed house was surrounded by swampy muddy places. The water stood around the shop for several days when it rained.

A small stove in the center of the shop furnished heat and at the same time, hot water for shaving. A few nails around the wall furnished a place for coats and hats to be hung.

'Place For "News"

The barber shop was a place for "news." All of the "goings on" could be heard. Hamp Huff owned the second barber shop in the building adjoining D.Y. Turner's store.

At the corner of Eversole and First streets was another shop owned by John McCreary. Henan Lankford used to "cut hair" in that same place.

One of the early barbers had a customer who held his tingue in his cheek while being shaved. He thought he was assisting the barber. One day he barber said jokingly, "I'll cut your neck if you don't get that tongue out of my way."

So much has been said of the barber shop quatet. Maybe the barber began it by singing while he worked. Usually once a year a "traveler" would come through town and teach singing for a 10 day period.

John Hall, who was quite a singer, always took the lessons. he lived on Long Branch near Crummies beffore coming to harlan. He just "picked up" the technique for hair cutting and shaving.

Court Witness Found

Many years ago while court was in session, the sheriff came to the window and called the witness' name three times. They called so louldly any person in town could hear.

One particular witness was getting his hair cut across the road from the court house. When he heard his named called he said "that's me" and jumped out of the chair with his hair half cut and ran to the court house. He was the joke of he town for several days.

One of the early barbers who had a regular customer that came in each week, fell upon a plan to make a little extra money. As the customer lay back in the chair, the barber wet the end of a towel and rubbed it on the bottom of the customer's shoe.

"See here, your hair needs washing," said the barber.

"Well, if its that dirty, just wash it," drawled the customer. That added another few cents to the bill. They always avoided the customers with a heavy beard. It dulled their razors.

Symbolic Striped Pole

The well-known barber pole that symbolizes every barber shop in the nation is ever present. Centuries ago the crude practice of surgery was included in the work of he barber but by the time of Henry VIII surgery was limited to blood-letting and tooth-drawing.

The sign of he old profession, the pole which the patient grasped, with its spiral decoration in imitation of a bandage, is still retained

picture...POSING PRETTILY---Groups of young people, long ago found the evenings enjoyable posing, for pictures at the studio. Many groups sat for Mrs. Boyd Kelly who owned a shop where the first barber shop in harlan was later located. the small boxed house was several feet back from the road near Pennington's grocery. The second barber shop ws across the street next to D.Y. Turner's store. The popular young group shown here are front row left to right: Sudie Smith, D.Y. Turner; top row, Lula Smith, Virgil Eversole and Alma M. Dizney.

Sunday December 13, 1953

Volume 52 Number 290

page 1 & 5

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