On most Mondays in Winside, anyone can walk into Harry’s Barber Shop for a great hair cut, but also receive an informative history lesson as well.
The walls of the barber shop in Winside hold over 134 years of history. The building was built in 1891 by W. H. McClusky and L. S. Neadham. The structure is the oldest standing building in this village.
During the early 1890’s farmers in Nebraska experienced severe drought and crop prices were very low. Farmers had a very hard time, while some gave up and moved out of state. The shop was set up with room for three barbers, a dressing room and bathing facilities. Farmers came into town on Saturday nights, took a warm bath and had a clean shave before they went out on the town after a hard day’s work.
The barber shop was sold a few times and in 1915, Otto Schneider started his business as a barber. He started as a renter. In 1916 he raised the haircut prices from a quarter to thirty-five cents. In 1917 he installed the first annunciator to notify the patrons from one to forty who was next for their appointment. Schneider eventually bought the business in 1918.
The building continued to change owners’ multiple times through the years until 1964 when William (Bill) Hoffman purchased the business. Hoffman leased the business to several people, including Harry Lorenzen, Jr. of Norfolk. In 1970 Lorenzen bought the business.
Lorenzen grew up on a farm on the edge of West Point. In 1963 he went to school to be a barber. Harry soon heard of the possibility of being drafted. He signed up for active duty in the National Guard. He served actively for six months and continued his service for six years.
While serving in Fort Dix, New Jersey, Harry had the opportunity to travel with other soldiers on a pass to the World’s Fair in New York City. He has very fond memories of a group of young men from the Midwest taking a trip to the Big Apple.
He reported it was a great time - they rode the subway until someone helped them to know where to depart. They stayed in a motel and had shared a pizza. The building did not have air conditioning so they did what they would at home and opened the windows. When they woke up, they had a lot of feathered friends finishing their pizza scraps. Their friends were known as the common New York pigeons.
Soon after coming back to Norfolk, Lorenzen went out dancing at the King’s dance hall in town. One night he met a lady who he swept off the dance floor. Her name was Ruth Jaeger, daughter of Hilf and Elta from Winside. They later married and recently celebrated 56 years of marriage.
Lorenzen told how his in-laws talked him into coming over to rent a spot for his barber shop and eventually purchasing the building.
Harry talks about how Winside was booming in the 1970’s. He said it had two grocery stores, one gas station, two bars, a furniture store, a laundry mat, a harness shop and a few other businesses in town. He said the town was busy and he was open all day on Mondays and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday nights. He said many men came in on Saturday nights for a clean shave before they went out on the town.
In 2015, Harry was awarded the Winside Quasquicentennial Historical Award for being the longest continuous business. Harry said he has never had a phone at his business or taken appointments. It is on a walk-in basis.
Harry continues to thrive at the age of 83 years old. He works close to full time. Mondays only in Winside and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at his other business, Country Clippers, in Norfolk.
Winside customers continue to keep Harry busy. Many of his customers have been coming to see him since they were small children. Jon Jaeger said he has been coming to Harry’s Barber Shop since he was two years old. He said no one else has ever cut his hair except Harry.
A lot has changed in the last 55 years. Generations of customers have come and gone, each making it all worth it for Harry to continue his business. Even though many businesses have closed, Harry’s Barber Shop continues to provide service with a smile, a little history and you can still get an affordable haircut.