The location of Bill’s barber shop on Main Street brings me to my next topic.  Usually every other Saturday, I find my way to 315 W. Main Street at Bill’s barber shop.  The chair barely gets warm, by the time Jim Taylor finishes with me.  See being hair impaired, the only hair that really grows is my eye brows, and around the ears.  Bill’s barbering chair dates back to the early 50’s and perhaps even before then.  The chair has been recovered a few times, but provides comfortable seating.

In many communities, the local barber shop serves as a gathering spot for the men in the community.  It is where the stages of life from being a boy to manhood can be marked.  That first haircut, with a nervous Mom and Dad hovering around a squirming child, or that time that Dad, or Granddad takes you for a cut and some man talk.  These shops have a certain type of leather chair for customer seating, usually the walls are covered with hunting, auto and sports pictures, some large calendars promoting auto repair tools, and a scantily clad women, cigar and cigarette smoke would surround you, and the reading material would include magazine such as Mechanics Illustrated, Boy’s Life, and a few Hunting, and Handyman magazines. Oh yes, can’t forget the smells, those being the various hair creams, wax, shaving cream, and hair tonic, that only the barber knows about. 

Local barber, Jim Taylor got his start in barbering working as an apprentice barber for Louis Murdock back in 1966.  Mr. Murdock had his barbershop at 111 N. Church Street, and at a later date Dr. Kunkle had his dental practice located there for many years, and is now occupied by the Reflections photo lab.  Jim got his barber’s training at the Lemarr Barber College in Detroit located along Woodward Avenue.  He attended the 9-month training program, and then a 2 year apprenticeship, completed in Hudson.  Jim Taylor was a Hudson boy, growing up around Grove Street, and attended Hudson schools.

In the mid 1960’s, Jim Taylor was one of at least 8 barbers in town, and worked with Bill Ransom, who eventually bought the barber shop from Mr. Murdock.  Around 1973, Bill Ransom moved the shop to its present location at 315 W. Main St and renamed it Bill’s Barber Shop.  Bill’s started out with 3 barbers including Jim Taylor, one beautician, and a shoe shine boy or girl. (Editor's note: it predates Mr. Goodroe by a good many years, but the location was the home of the Post-Gazette for many years up to 1956.)

Back in 1966, the tools of the trade were still pretty basic, not the variety of clippers, shears, and cutting tools available today.  For a time in the 60’s and 70’s many barbers used Clipper vacuum’s, these clippers, removed the hair as quickly as it was cut.  I remember these clippers being rather noisy, and were no doubt heavy and awkward for the barber to use.  At some point in the 1980’s the vacuum’s went out of favor, and newer, sharper, smaller, and lighter clippers came into use.

In talking to Jim, we discussed the changes in hairstyle over the years. Apparently when long hair on youth and men became fashionable, many barbers refused to learn how to cut long hair, and in some cases, opted to retire.  The longer styles very fashionable in the mid 60’s and the 70’s were no doubt popularized by musical groups such as the Beatles.  Styles like the flat top have never really fallen out of style, as many men still prefer them. Though styles like the Mohawk have seen their day, they are occasional requested by a certain few.

Upon entering Bill’s barber shop it feels like the olden days.  In the display windows, is a collection of straight edge razors, and scissors, on the other side is a shoe shine case and stool, and the various brushes and shoe waxes, and the various tools used by previous shoe shine boys.  It has been several years, since regular shoe shine services were available at Bill’s.  In Hudson and, certainly elsewhere many future barbers and stylists got their start shining shoes and sweeping up hair, as they learned the business.

In 1969, I held my first job on the day I turned 16 as a mail boy at Michigan National bank in downtown Flint, a job I’d hold for nearly 4 years.  The bank was a rather formal environment, located in the Mott Foundation building.  I mention this to relate my first adult type of barbering experience. Located on the 7th floor, was an executive barber shop. They used the vacuum clippers, and magic fingers, to give a scalp massage, and relax stressed out shoulder muscles.  This was a time before we learned about stress of course.  Next is the hot shave cream and straight edge razor to finish cleaning around the ears and neckline.  To a 16 year old, making $1.25 an hour, those magic fingers and hot shave cream seemed adult like and mighty important, and the $5.00 price well worth it.  I wanted to see how an executive was treated.  In the sub basement of the building, where the mailroom was located, I didn’t get to see very many bank executives very often.

It has been many years, since I visited a barber that even knows how to use a straight edge razor, hot shave cream, let alone offer a scalp massage.  The only time I saw a straight edge razor was in old western movies.  This past January, my first time in the chair at Bill’s Barbershop, I got my first hot shave in over 30 years.  Following the shave, out comes the Jeris hair tonic/antiseptic, which burns a bit and tingles some, and then to daub some talc around the collar.  All of which you won’t be getting at Great Clips.

Recently, a long time customer brought into Bill’s a small collection of various barbering tonics.  In the empty station from where Jim works is a display of tonics, such as Lucky Tiger-3 purpose hair tonic, and Hask hair and scalp treatment, and Jeris Hair tonic, and no doubt some of the waxes and hair creams once required to style flat tops, and longer hair.

As is often the case, a local barber gets an earful, and now as the sole barber in town, Jim Taylor hears a lot.  On most Saturday’s at Bill’s barber shop, customers will be coming in for a fast clip, and a whole lot of talk.  On the tables are a variety of sports and hunting magazines, Newspapers, and plenty of talk.  The topics will vary, perhaps about local and collegiate sports, game scores, who is sick, who needs a job, and even City business such as progress on the street construction, and water and sewer bills.  You will find Jim Taylor in the thick of things, as he cuts and talks, and a few tall tails are no doubt told.

Now in my middle years, it takes just a brief time to trim my hair, but it is rather neat to observe children and youth, as they experience the barber shop.  Jim will ask if it’s cut short enough, and how about the neckline.  Sons and fathers still tend not to agree with the specifics of hair length. Often times you will hear the youth and the parent negotiating on those points.

In talking with Jim Taylor, I asked about his using a straight edge razor, and how that seems to be rarity in the barbering business.  He believes that it is more common in larger communities.  He indicated that he still has the vacuum clippers, but they are no longer used.  And then I ask about the magic fingers massager . . . oh that’s in the backroom and still works.  I’d say it’s about time to get that device out and help work on those stress constricted shoulders.

So as not to forget, the barber pole outside the shop is still in place.  That’s how we tell that Bill’s barbershop is open and ready for clipping.

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