A renovation tale of a 1916 building

131 1st Street North, Small Town USA

The first buzz Cut

Everyone seems to be curious about what is going on at the old barber shop. First, it's getting a buzz cut (torn apart) so it can get put back together. The building went up in 1916 and was intended to be a barber shop from the start. The upstairs is said to have originally been a doctor and dentist office. The last barber, Sylvester Seymour started shaving stubble (say that fast 4 times) and giving flat tops back in the '40s. Sy cut hair for 68 years. His wife passed away in 2009 and at 91 years old Sy went into the nursing home and died a year after his wife. He was still cutting hair up till a couple years before that. After having scissors in his hands for 68 of his 91 years he could probably cut hair blindfolded. Talk to anyone and they have a story about getting their hair cut by Sy. Did he cut many new little boys hair when he was in his 80's? A few, but he did continue to have regular customers who have been sitting in his chair for as long as they can remember. You can probably pick them out walking around town, they are the old guys with long hair now that Sy is no longer in business to trim them up. As for a close razor shave, he probably quit lathering faces in his 70's for safety reasons since shaving a face is more dangerous to do blindfolded.




The Upstairs Apartment


Above the barber shop is an apartment that has been frozen in time with a great view of the lake. The Seymours lived simply and uncomplicated in their converted offices. Many of the doorways were closed off or unused. For the renovation some of the doorways and some walls will be opened up to create a bright, modern apartment.  Other doors will be closed off in the private spaces.  The old radiators will get a new coat of paint, why cover them up when they radiate (ha ha pun intended)  some of the vintage look.  The old plaster walls will be completely redone with new sheetrock.  In the background you can see the chair lift that was needed the past couple years to help the occupants up to their home.  It will be removed, and the stairway refinished.