HEREABOUTS virginia burroughs
On May 15, 1961, the Elmhurst Barber Shop opened in Residence Park. On May 14, owner and barber Harvey Cook celebrated his shop’s 50th anniversary by handing out commemorative pens to customers. A special friend, LebaRae Shaw, even brought in cake for customers.
“I brought cake and punch to the shop Friday and Saturday,” she said. “Harvey’s worked hard to achieve this, and he received congrats and handshakes, and an impressive bouquet of balloons from his daughter and son-in-law in Columbus. There were clients and friends who stopped in to offer congratulations, enjoy cake and punch and chat.”
“Chatting” has been one of the job’s highlights for Cook. “I’ve made a lot of friends in this shop over the years,” he observed. “I like talking to people, and we talk about everything in here. When the shop opened, the Freedom Riders had just started, and they and segregation were topics of conversation. Most of the customers never thought that a black would be president during their lifetimes, and were surprised when Obama — who was born in 1961 — was elected. It’s very interesting how things move forward and change over the years.”
Cook’s family moved to Dayton from the South when he was 9. He attended Garfield Elementary and Dunbar High schools.
“I worked a few years after graduation, then was drafted,” he said. “When I got out of the service in 1954, I went to barbering school. They were full in Columbus, so I went to Cincinnati. I worked for another barber in Dayton six years, then opened my own shop on Elmhurst in 1961.”
During the years, Cook has had many regular clients, “and I still have about 10 of my original customers,” he says. “I’ve had a loyal client base, and then got their children, grandchildren, and even a few great-grandkids.”
But he’s only open now on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. “Business has been slowing down — partly because of the economy but also baldness. Many of my regulars have grown bald, and a lot of the young ones shave each other’s heads.”
He’s not complaining, though — the barbershop got all four of his daughters and his late wife, Sarah, through college. Now, he’s enjoying his slowed pace by traveling a bit and going on cruises.
Cook, who’ll turn 79 in July, remembers all of the shoeshine boys he had in the shop during the years and keeps in touch with them. “One’s a doctor, one’s an FBI director in Illinois, one’s an insurance agent in Columbus and one’s a teacher in California. I still have the shoeshine stand, but it’s not in operation anymore.”
As for the future of the shop, Cook hasn’t made any firm plans.
“I have a couple of nephews who want to take it over, but I haven’t decided yet,” he said.
Contact this columnist at virgburroughs@gmail.com.
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