It smelled so good, the old barbershop in Neponset. A clean, sunny room with a shiny shampoo station, wafting fumes of shaving cream, hair pomade, dusting powder to calm hair clippings on the neck–many men, children, and some women availed themselves of these delights.
The two barbers I especially remember were suave Harvey Beery, who reigned during the thirties and forties, and Mike Mowbray, who later clipped his way to hair-history as “Three-Minute Mike,” renowned for his ability to turn out a trimmed head of hair in record time.
Harvey also deigned to cut female hair on occasion (including mine); he later owned and operated beauty salons in Kewanee. Mike made the news in USA TODAY and several TV spots when President Clinton delayed a scheduled air flight for two hours while he got a $200 hair trim. In all his years at the chair, Mike never changed his price: $1.75 a head. Big Media got wind of it. Three minutes, $1.75–instant fame.
But the barbershop is gone, demolished this week. Some time ago it was gifted to the next-door Neponset Historical Society for possible expansion. But the building had reached the end of usefulness. And now we come to the reason I love this tiny town.
The Historical Society exists on good-will donations and the hard, unpaid work of a dedicated board and staff. The front part of the building was once an egg and creamery store. The back was Dr. Bertelsen’s shop where he created “Aeromobiles”, world famous among scientists. Slowly, patiently the Society, which has a knack for making the best of things, transformed the building into a clean, imaginative housing of local history exhibits. Now the Society has an ambitious plan for the use of the cleared lot where the barbershop once lived: there will be room for a long, much-needed addition to the museum.
Yes, it will take careful planning, personal labor, and—money—lots of it. But it will come to be, because Neponset always carries through a worthy project. Recently the Society and museums of Henry, Mercer, Stark, and Warren counties, plus Princeville Heritage and Sheffield Historical Society published a booklet, “2024 Museum Hop, Passport to Adventure.” It provides information about each museum and mentions current exhibits of special interest. Neponset lists “Lloyd Twing Art Gallery, Bertelsen Areomobile, Carl Sandberg and Railroad History, (more about Sandberg in another column—he loved Neponset), and Agriculture Display.” The group is running a contest: each museum will give you a stamp if you visit, and if you get 3 or more different stamps you’re eligible for a $100 drawing on September 15, 2024. Fun and possibly profit for taking a little summer excursion.
Have you ever thought how much big cities could improve if their individuals put out the effort and ingenuity (and monetary donations), PER PERSON, that we little gatherings do? I know, I know, there are all kinds of roadblocks to small-town solutions to big-town problems, but community pride and effort can work wonders. And another thought: this is the season when nature and religion remind us in so many ways that when one thing crumbles, something new and good can take its place. The old barbershop was a place needed for local citizens years ago. They got a physical service (haircut), but just as important, a chance to socialize, to chat with people they might not ordinarily see, and to “solve the world’s problems,” plus exchange a little local gossip. Today the museum is a place to refresh memories, learn about life at another time, and to look up family information that could prove vital to your wellbeing.
Goodbye, beloved barbershop. Hello, connection to this century and those who went before. A good thing.
Keep the faith and—hold on!
Your friend, Carol