The barber pole outside the door identifies a typical 1910 Barber shop. and features one of the barber chairs used by Mr. Hendrik Meijer during his early days of barbering. The picture on the wall to the right shows Hendrik in his own Greenville barber shop on the corner of Charles and Lafayette in 1918. The little satchel on the table under the picture contained his own barbering tools for calls away from the shop.

He operated his shop in the basement while renting out the main floor to a restaurant and living upstairs. During the Depression, when his tenants left, he continued barbering, but began to sell a small quantity of groceries, fruits and vegetables in the main floor space. This sideline became so attractive that he gave up the barber trade after a time and became a successful full-time grocer. This modest start evolved into the present Meijer supermarket chain.

The shaving mugs along the back wall were reserved for certain regular customers and held their favorite cake of shaving soap and shaving brush. Initials were put on the mug to assure private use. Many customers came regularly for a shave — and barbers in those days did more shaving than haircuts. Today it is just the opposite.

Safety razors were unheard of in 1910, and consequently it was necessary to use a straight razor such as those you see in the cup on the shelf. The leather razor strop hanging from the chair was used to strop, or sharpen, the razor before use.

While waiting his turn in the barber chair a customer would often read the newspaper or other periodicals.

The barber’s prices posted on the right wall reflect the economy of the day. Compare them with what you would pay today! This was the era of the slogan, “shave and a haircut—two bits,” which meant a quarter.