Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cuttin' up in Prescott for 100 years

For the past century, barbers have been working at 112 E. Elm in Prescott, making it a likely candidate as the oldest business in the same location in Prescott.

The current occupant of that building, Ronnie Lowdermilk, has spent most of the past 37 years cutting hair there and researching the business. He said hes come by his information through documentation and word of mouth, and believes that at least the majority of that information to be accurate.

According to Lowdermilk, the building, the business and the customers have changed dramatically over the 100 years.

There arent many of the old-school barbers left, Lowdermilk said.

The building was constructed by then-Prescott Mayor Randolph Hamby. Patrons of the shop could take a seat in any of the four barber chairs, have a shoe shine or bath, or just sit around and catch up on the news while their wives were shopping in town. In those days, the foam for shaving didnt come from a can but was a round bar of soap in a mug and the lather was applied with a soft-bristled brush. Lowdermilk said the regular customers  probably mostly the town folks or those who worked in the city  had their own soap mugs. In those days, customers who wanted a bath would be supplied with hot water and soap in one of the shops tubs  then located in the back room of the business  for the grand sum of 25 cents.

As a rule, the front and back doors remained open during the summer to create a breeze because there was no air conditioner. The high ceilings meant the building could be relatively cool and lowering the ceiling is one of the few changes Lowdermilk has made.

By 1921, the business included a beauty shop. Lowdermilk said the beautician was Miss Hazel Matlock. The women who were getting their hair done didnt generally stop to wait with the men, but passed through on their way to the beauty shop which consisted of a partitioned section past the four barber stations. Its not difficult to imagine the ladies making their way past the men and the conversations overheard by those same ladies when the men forgot their presence on the other side of the partition.

Lowdermilk said Matlock herself was a colorful character.

She never married and she never told her age, he said.

When she died, her stone had only the death date  no birth date  so she literally carried her secret to the grave.

Babe Garland was another of the businesss colorful characters. He ran the shoe shine stand, offering his services for many years. The stand today remains in the business, though its only purpose now is as a display for some of the many items Lowdermilk has on display.

I just got started collecting the old stuff, Lowdermilk said of his collection.

Lowdermilk himself became a barber in Prescott in 1964. He spent two years in Hope before moving to his current location, first as a barber then as the owner.

There were 11 barbers in town when I came to Prescott to work at Fores (Barbershop) in 1964, Lowdermilk said. And they all stayed busy.

Lowdermilk said the old school barbers are all but non-existent and says its at least partly to the changes in whats socially acceptable.

Years ago, a man wouldnt dare go into a beauty shop, Lowdermilk said. But the old barbers wouldnt move to what people wanted.

Another difference is that people dont go to town on Saturdays and most families do their shopping in the larger cities.

Fifty years ago, thered be so many people in Prescott you couldnt get around, Lowdermilk said.

In those days, all four of the barber chairs at Lowdermilks shop would be filled. Today, hes down to a single barber chair and no longer offers shaves because to do it right simply takes too long.

But some things havent changed. There are several wooden chairs in Lowdermilks shop that have been part of the shop since around 1911. They came from the Lee Hotel and Lowdermilk said he believes they cost $5 each. Pointing out the chairs, Lowdermilk said many men have taken a seat there over the years, either waiting their turn in the barber chair or to talk and listen.

Theyd come here for the town news, Lowdermilk said.

A lot of stories have been told here, added Billy Collins, a long-time customer and sometimes visitor of the shop.

Lowdermilk, now approaching retirement age, said he has no plans to retire. He cited those people who dread going to work and says he isnt one of them. On any given business day, hell be at the shop, putting his skills to use or waiting for the next customer. And on some days, Lowdermilk, Collins and other long-time customers may be simply sitting in the oak chairs that came from the Lee Hotel  and possibly telling stories.