Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 09, 2012

Dick's Barber Shop opened the first week of May in 1964. Previously, this building had been a dry cleaning business owned by such notables as Dudley Watts and Leta "Jo" Davis Farmer Wiseman Ross.

Dick's wife, Theanna, opened her beauty shop in the east half of the building in 1963. Prior to Dick operating the barber shop, the west half had been Meadows Insurance.

The first barber chair in the new shop came from the basement of Dan Cunning's building. There was a barber shop there for decades. I once read or heard that this shop under Cunning's was once owned by Frank Phillips of Phillips Petroleum fame. This is very possible as Frank Phillips once owned every barber shop in Creston.

The grand opening for Dick's Barber shop was May 9, 1964 with free coffee and doughnuts advertised. Dick says the state inspector who came to look over Dick's new shop, saw the ad and informed Dick that there would be no food or drink served in state inspected barber shops. So Dick issued coupons for free coffee and doughnuts that were honored at Ruth's Cafe.

Barbers used to be plentiful and we came up with the names of five other barbers where were in business in Mount Ayr when Dick set up shop. Bob Smith had his shop on Taylor Street, Bill Buell was in the old Northern Propane building, Vern Taggart was on Adams Street, Bill Wheeler may have been in the basement under Bill French's building and Bob Evans had a shop somewhere. Haircuts were $1.50 then.

Dick and I talked about haircuts that aren't as popular now as they used to be. Flat tops, crew cuts and mohawks seem to be slipping into the past. I asked about unusual requests and Dick said he occasionally cuts a football player's number in the side of his head.

A few years ago I went in for a haircut and learned that the man I was waiting on was Ron Lamb, who lived in Des Moines. I asked Dick what was the longest distance someone had travelled (sic) for a haircut and Dick said a woman who moved to Illinois would stop in for a haircut when she came back to visit friends and relatives. A woman? Yeah, Dick said he has had many female customers over the years.

When I asked about famous patrons, Dick answered right away, "Billy Grammer." I've never heard of Billy Grammer but he was a country music recording artist and was a regular on the "Grand Ol' Opry." Billy had a to 10 hit in 1959 with "Gotta Travel on" and was also the first to record "Detroit City" written by Mel Tillis. Dick said Billy and his brother came to Ringgold county to hunt pheasant and would stop in for a haircut. On at least one occasion the brothers brought their guitars and picked a little bit.

A famous visitor, although not a customer, was actress Hilary Swank who accompanied her father Stephen on a trip to Dick's Barber Shop.

And then there was the contest that WHO radio personalities Van Harden and Bonnie Lucas broadcast[ed] on their program. It was called Iowa's Best Barber and was sponsored by Our Iowa Magazine. The final day of judging was February 16, 2008 in Ames. Dick finished in the top 10 and has some nice pictures on his wall and some fond memories as a result.

One day I went in for a haircut and I complained that I was paying full price when I didn't have a full head of hair. I suggested I pay half price. Dick threatened to charge me double. "On what grounds?" I demanded. Dick smiled and said, "Finder's Fee." Very funny. By the way, Dick is the last barber in Ringgold county.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 24, 2014

I took this photo August 6, 2009. The Coca-Cola machine is no longer there, but Dick's Barber Shop is still there. In fact, it has been there 50 years now. Dick opened in this shop on May 4, 1964.

I have already written an article on Dick's Barber Shop, which appeared in the February 9, 2012 edition of the Mount Ayr Record-News, but this special occasion warrants another one.

The building in this week's photos was the former Fairway Cleaners. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Perry sold the business to Jo farmer on January 1, 1947. Jo married Whitey Wiseman after that and began to lease the cleaners to other operators. Dudley Watts was the last to operate the business.

Dick and Theanna Simpson bought the building at the end of 1962 or the beginning of 1963 and remodeled the east half for Theanna's Beauty Shop. The west half was rented to Meadows Insurance. The rooms in the rear of the building were converted to an apartment, and that's where the Simpsons lived in the early days.

Dick served his apprenticeship in Clarinda and then worked with R. P. Jackson in his shop in Ellston. When Dick opened his shop in Mount Ayr, he had plenty of competition as there were six other barbers in town at that time.

Bob Smith and Bob Evans were located at 110 North Taylor. They had purchased the James Wood Barber Shop on June 8, 1959 when the shop was located across the street from Lefty's Club Tavern. Cliff Shaughnessy had been here before Jim Wood.

Bob Smith's grandfather, William Buell, was across the street from his grandson at 109 North Taylor. Dick believes W. H. Wheeler was working at Buell's Barber Shop in 1964. These two gentlemen had at least 40 years experience each. They first worked together in 1925 at Wheeler's shop in Kellerton. I believe Mr. Wheeler was the last barber to have a shop under what is now Wm. French Agency. In September 1960, Mr. Wheeler sold his barber shop in Kellerton to Kenneth Smith of Lamoni and in October bought the Jess Skinner Shop under what was then W. B. Cunning Co.

More competition. Vern Taggart and an apprentice were located at 100 E. Adams. Jim Skinner opened a barber shop here on August 24, 1953 with Mr. Taggart operating the second chair. In April 1955, Vern bought the shop from Jim.

I'm often asked about the barber shop under Cunning's on the north side of the square. Sandy Stogdill opened Sandy's Beauty Shop here in the 1960s. By March 11, 1971, Sandy was located in the former William Buell barber shop.

OK, don't forget to stop in and congratulate Dick on 50 years in business and get your ears lowered while you're at it.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News ~ Mike Avitt

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2014