Boone Barbers

     Michael Sundall got it going in the last edition. He mentioned Boone barbers Clyde Anderson and Dan Veeder and wondered about other Boone barbers.
     Ron Hopkins clear out in Washington state wrote, "In 1956-57, I worked at Red's Toy and Hobby shop in the basement at Eighth and Story under Meyer's Clothing. That space was shared with an elderly barber named Grover. Sharp instruments were scary in his shaky hands, so I think the only customers were faithful, long-time patrons. Clyde, at the northside, was my favorite. Since I left Boone, my talented wife, Judy, has cut my hair and her own. In our 50 years of marriage, she has, obviously, saved us thousands of dollars. Maybe this suggests a new criterion for spousal selection? Keep up the interesting work."
     Somebody mentioned Tom Corl and Ross Hanson wrote from Wisconsin, "I remember Springer's shop that started next to the Citizens Bank on Eighth Street, then  moved underneath the Bowman Shoe
Store on the northeast corner of Eighth and Story. I think the father's name was Lee and then sons Bill and Leonard worked in the business also."
     Michael Loehrer wrote from Ohio, "Merle and, later, Phil Sherbon had a shop across from Mrs. Fox's popcorn stand on Ninth Street. I remember they ran a contest as to the favorite singer of the 50's, Elvis or Pat Boone. Haircut recipients voted but I don't recall if there was a prize. Then, Clyde Anderson moved to town and the Northside Barber Shop became the place to go. Clyde was a great guy and made everyone welcome. It didn't hurt that his son's, Gary and Toby, made a great many friends and brought them into the shop."
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     Thanks to Karen Musser for a show of support for this effort and also providing an interesting article. The Kornerman didn't realize the magazine, "The Iowan," was alive clear back in 1953, the year I graduated from  BHS. Yet, here was a story from that January edition about an "Unusual Iowan" who was a Booneite. His name was A.L. Ingersoll and in the magazine, he was called, "Boone's Amazing Steeple Jack."
     In the story it says that although A.L. weighed just 97 pounds, he was called, "Big." He began as a painter for his dad but, eventually, he began painting tall objects like water towers, flag poles, courthouses and radio towers. His biggest project was the WOI-TV tower in Ames which was 685 feet high. "Big," a father of nine, was 60 years old at the time of the magazine story. He never used a safety belt and was never able to buy insurance coverage for his climbing work.
     Karen wrote, "I didn't become a Boone resident until 1961 so this was before my time here. I enjoy your blog and I know that Chuck would have also. In fact, he could have added lots of sport memories. Thanks for keeping everyone informed."
     Chuck, of course, is Chuck Musser, Karen's late husband. That Musser clan was a very talented athletic group, especially as Toreador basketball stars, and Chuck was certainly as good as any.
     Now, the question of the day. Anyone out there in Kornerland have any recollection of "Big" or his family members? Would any still be around?
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     A couple of quick notes: Davi Mondt Lowman noticed we had mentioned recently Iowa ballrooms and her husband had one to add to the list. Husband Galen was  raised in Laurens and recalled the "Ridotto Ballroom" in Havelock. According to Galen it was nicknamed, "The Bloody Bucket." Davi said she learned more about that and many other Iowa ballrooms via the web site.......
http://www.iowaballroom.com/p/past/ridotto.html
     Tom Matt has great memories of Boyds. He wrote, "What a memory that is for the majority of Boone people 50 to 60 years ago. Of their three locations, ice cream was made on the north side, milk was processed and bottled on the south side and at the west side store across from the Adobe Lounge in West Boone. Dick Farley managed the north side store and was my brother, Jim's, boss in 1957-58. He was my boss in 1959-60 and then in the 70's, my daughter, Marcia Matt Hughes, worked for Dick. He always had kids from Sacred Heart and Boone High working so they could fill in for each other when different school activities were going on. Boyd's was great to see you didn't miss out because of work. We could also have all the ice cream we wanted and we made some crazy things to try. Jim Boyd was a super guy. What a great place for kids to learn customer service and how to count back change. You don't get that now at Mac and Don's."
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     Boone Area Deaths: Marjorie Lebo, 94, Boone. Farmed in Boone County before moving to Ames. There, she worked at Iowa State. Returned to Boone in 1992.............Edward Dean Nelson, 84, Ogden. OHS-47. Worked over 40 years for Northern Natural Gas. A six-year member of the Iowa National Guard and spent over 25 years as an Ogden volunteer firefighter.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments.......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.