Allow me to set the scene … The late 19th and early 20th centuries are often referred to as the Golden Age of Barbershops. During this time, men would gather in these establishments to socialize, read newspapers, and enjoy the lively atmosphere. Barbershops became an integral part of community life. The first written use of the word "barbershop" when referring to harmonizing came in 1910, with the publication of the song, "Play That Barbershop Chord”. There are many barbershop photographs depicting stoic barbers and their clientele. The following photograph was obtained due to the very uncommon characteristic of a guitarist entertaining the patrons, it may be a unique image. I searched internet without finding a single musician in a barbershop photograph. This photograph was taken by Elton E. Kunselman & John O. Gerking. Their studio was at 128 E. Main in Medford, Oregon and they were partners in 1912 & 1913. Faintly written on the back of the photograph is … W C Agner barber shop Barber Shop Medford Oregon his picture is in it. On February 2, 1911, the Medford Mail Tribune reported that all but 173 of Jackson County's 25,756 people were white, listing the others as 56 negroes, 5 Indians, 84 Chinese, and 28 Japanese. Medford was a boomtown. In 1913 the population was 10,500. It was the best paved city in the world (for its size). It was a railroad stop and the gateway to Crater Lake National Park. From the 1912 Jackson County Directory • William C. Agner was a barber Agner roomed at 621 N. Front, as did another barber named W. Westley Kennedy (Ina Oatman, resident of Talent, Oregon, married William Westley Kennedy of Medford, Oregon, on June 7, 1909, in Yreka, California, listed as divorced in 1917) • Agner is listed as working at H C Workman Barbershop • Harry C Workman has a Barbershop at 113 E Main (across the street from Kunselman & Gerking Photographers) Other listed employees of Workman are barbers William H. Schulz and Nathan W. Slusser, and bootblacks Edward Henderson and William Shaftner I found an image of Nathan W. Slusser https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Slusser-235#Biography Seems he ran the shop too!? https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51020139/nathan-william-slusser From the 1914 Jackson County Directory • H C Workman is absent • Kennedy & Agner paid $100 taxes jointly (business partners?) • Noe & Stephenson (C. T. Noe, R. O. Stephenson), barbers 113 E. Main The 1916 Directory has no mention of William C Agner, W. Wesley Kennedy or Harry C Workman. Only Mrs Wes Kennedy is shown working as a clerk. I haven’t cut my hair since 1990, but if I ever get it cut … it’ll be from a guy like this … https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=916662915124448
Love it. I bet those guys cut some good hair and gave a nice clean shave, too. Could you imagine walking in for the first time with the guitarist playing? How cool would that be?! Thanks for sharing
Super image and great research ! Medford was sure a lot cuter back then-Americans seemed to take pride in their towns and the building reflected it.The architecture was something the owner wanted to be proud of-they frequently put their name & date of construction on the facade.
pretty cool , thanks Roaring! it reminded me of when my Dad used to take me to a barbershop....when I was a child. So very long ago...it sometimes seems a dream.....but that's what the back room looked like.
Love it. Good spot for the acoustics too. My paternal grandfather was a barber until the local priest asked him to become an undertaker for the small Catholic community in his town. That turned out to be a lucky choice, a man with a conscience. Many of you know his wartime story, which included driving Jewish people in his hearse to the coast (in a coffin with airhole), where they were picked by boats headed for England. He couldn't have done that as a barber.
My grandfathers and uncles on both sides of the family (Italians and Syrians)were all barbers. Barbering was a good living, I guess! Here is my great uncle cutting hair in 1930
