‘Gospel Truth’ from Knox’s Favorite Barber

| August 5, 2019

KNOX, Pa. (EYT) – “The stories these walls could tell” is a lament that applies to 427 Main Street in Knox that has served as a barbershop since 1877.

(PICTURED ABOVE: Customer Ken Russell and Barber Larry Lewis.)

For over 50 years, Larry Lewis has cut hair in the shop straight out of Mayberry and heard more than a few stories.

“Remember, what comes out of here is gospel,” said customer Ken Russell on Tuesday afternoon as he was having his hair and beard trimmed by Lewis.

“In the barbershop, it’s the gospel truth,” cautions Larry.  “In the beauty shop, it’s gossip.”

Whatever you want to call it, the haircuts and stories are legend.

Larry, 68, was surprised recently when his two daughters organized a surprise anniversary celebration in his one-chair barbershop.

“The whole anniversary was a complete surprise, and I didn’t know what my two daughters were planning,” continued Larry. “They organized it through word of mouth and Facebook, and I don’t know how to get on Facebook.

“I was absolutely surprised and didn’t have a clue.”

Lewis may not know how to use Facebook, but barber shops have their own social network, and stories get passed around throughout the community and generations.

On July 3, 1969, Lewis began cutting hair as an apprentice under Glen Hiwiller, who was the Knox Barber from 1924 to 1974. After 50 years of cutting hair, Hiwiller retired, and Larry was on his own. With over 50 years under his belt himself, Larry, however, doesn’t have any intentions to retire. He likes what he is doing.

Graduating from Keystone High School in 1968, Larry said he had only two jobs in his life; Hi-Level Golf Course when he was 12 years old and the barbershop.

After nine months of training at the Erie Barber School, Larry returned home to approach Hiwiller to see if he could complete the required 15-month apprenticeship in Glenn’s shop. In those days, the apprenticeship was needed to earn a state barber license. According to Larry, Glenn wasn’t too keen on the idea and found out later it was a Keystone High School teacher who was instrumental in changing Glenn’s mind on the apprenticeship.

Ira Dunkle was Larry’s first customer in 1969, and he said he gave seven haircuts that day for $1.50 each.  He took home $10.50 and realized this might not be a job in which he would get rich.

“When I came here, it was a two-chair shop, and when I bought the shop in 1974. I later moved the one chair out when the hydraulic fluid started leaking so bad.”

Over the last 50 years, business got a little slow during the long hair days of the ’70s and ’80s. Flattops came back into the fold, and designer cuts became popular.

“I have my regulars, the older people, and that pretty much makes up my business. Being here 50 years, a lot of the guys were 20 during the ’70s. I’ve cut hair for five generations of my family and five generations of the Vickers and Apel families. I have a real good chance of doing six generations with the Vickers family because Tim Vickers is going to be a great grandfather in December.  I told him whether it’s a boy or girl, bring them in and let me snip their hair.”

Another attraction at Larry’s shop is his wall of fame that includes photos of community kids who have achieved various honors throughout the years, including local Medal of Honor recipient Ross McGinnis.

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Add in all of the trophies on display for the barbershop softball team from the Knox Horsethief Days Softball Tournament each year and other items on display, and Larry’s could almost be called a museum.

Between Lewis and Hiwiller, the two owners are responsible for 100 years of the 142 years of a barbershop in Knox.

“I’ve enjoyed being a barber,” said Larry.  “I enjoy the people.”

Former Mayor Frank Agnello probably summed up the Larry experience in a column he once wrote.

“I always learn something I didn’t know when I get a cut at Larry’s.”


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Category: Community, Local News, News