The Barber Shop at the Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village

Every town needed a barber, but not every town had a barber shop. Some barbers set up in a corner of the saloon, outside the blacksmith shop, or in any other place where customers could be found. The barber shop was another gathering place for men waiting for their turn in the chair. The barbershop provided one of the rites of passage for the village children. All looked forward to the first time they were tall enough to sit in the chair like a grown up and not have to sit on a broad placed across the arms of the chair.

Some barbers still did minor medical treatment--what we might call first aid--especially if another service provided by some barbers. The red and white of the barber pole symbolizes the red of blood and the white of bandages, an emblem dating back to the middle ages. A few barber shops provided baths, but this town has a hotel to furnish this service.

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Please send comments to Historic_Village@baylor.edu. Updated Aug. 23, 2001.