BIM THE BARBER MOVING DOWN THE STREET

(09/12/2006)

After 21 years in the same spot, Bim the Barber is moving his barber shop.

Bim will load up his barber chairs and backboard and take them down the street to a brick building owned by Denver and Paula Roberts, (beside the DHHR office).

One of those chairs was owned by early 20th century barber Harvey Stout.

"I hope to erect the old barber pole owned by Mike Williams," said Bim.

"I expect to make the move before the end of the month," Bim said.

Bim is one of two official licensed barbers in the whole-wide county, the other being Crystal Lynn Marks at Millstone.

Bim's Main Street location was established about 45 years ago when Bill Jones started barbering in Grantsville, to be followed by long-timer Mike Williams.

Nearby, was another barber shop - The Duck Alley Shop, where Bill Price and others practiced their tonsorial skills. Price was also located in the old bank building, now Calhoun Realty.

Dink Sturm was a popular barber in the 50s, his shop once located in one of the buildings that "hung over" Simon's Run beside High Street, along with the taxi stand, the Terminal Restaurant and the Citizen's Telephone Company. Those buildings were replaced with the construction of the approaches to the newest Grantsville bridge.

Earlier in the last century, there was a barber shop with at least seven chairs, located under the current Calhoun Bank.

Albert Ball says the first barber he remembers was Gordie Vanhorn, who later moved from Grantsville to Barnes Run near Hur.

"I was told by my parents that I cried when anyone other than Gordie cut my hair. I do remember that in later years, one could get a summer haircut in Gordie's front yard, sitting on a straight chair," said Ball. "Who could forget Harvey Stout. His shop was the place where all the local news and gossip was propagated."

Another early barber was Dick Marshall.

Over 100 years ago, one of Calhoun's notable black residents Pete Hicks was a popular barber.

The early barbers used non-electric hair clippers, noted for "pulling hair."