CITY OF PERRY, IOWA
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Local Barbers

8/4/2016

 
​This is what we would say to the barber during the 50’s and 60’s when we would go in to get our duck-tail haircuts and had sideburns.  Because we avoided a haricut as long as possible, we didn’t know that our parents had already called the barber before we got there with their instructions.  Before we could make our wishes known to the barber we had to first graduate off that hard board the barber put us on as a youngster to raise us up high enough to cut our hair.
                This article wil focus on a few of the barbers we remember in Perry.  Lenny Stracke’s Downtown Barber Stylist at 1222 2nd Street is a shop that has been there since 1957, when Tommy Schirman and Frank Schomers barbered there.  Lenny who came from Westphalia, Iowa attended his senior year in high school at Harlan.  Lenny then attended Sioux City Barber College in ‘68 and ‘69. His first barbering job was in Audubon, at  Sam Kauffman’s Shop during ’69 and ’70.  Lenny started his own barber shop in July of ’75.
                Lenny’s Downtown Barber Stylist as it is called, is about the only barber left in Perry where you can still get the works. That means shampooing your hair, drying it, cutting it or having a shave.  It is also one that you feel comfortable in just sitting around telling stories or talking about whatever is on your mind.
                Barber shops as I understand the history, served as both barber and doctor or dentist offices.  I can’t imagine having stitches or a tooth pulled without novacaine, but I guess the amount of alcohol used helped the pain.
                At one time we had as many barber shops in Perry as we had gas stations. Two of them were in the fronts of pool halls.  We really liked these shops as we reached our early teens.  Actually you could learn a lot of different things in pool halls that weren’t taught in school!  When your parents gave you money for a haircut, which at that time as $0.75 - $1.00 you better come home with a good haircut.  As luck was against us many times, we got to playing pool and didn’t hear our name called for a haircut, resulting in all our money being spent on pool and pop.  The next day after school we were right back at the pool hall with money for our haircut and our parents at our side, usually Dad!  Then we  had to go straight home to do some chores to pay our parents back the money we wasted on pool rather than a haircut.  

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City of Perry, Iowa | 1102 Willis Avenue P.O. Box 545, Perry, IA 50220 | (515) 465-2481
Culture & Community Thrive Here.
  • Government
    • Agendas & Minutes
    • Public Notices
    • Mayor & Council
    • Administration >
      • City Administrator
      • Finance Officer >
        • Human Resources
      • City Clerk
      • Housing & Development Manager
      • Marketing and Engagement Coordinator
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Departments >
      • Cemetery
      • Garbage & Recycling
      • Library
      • Parks and Recreation
      • Perry Water Works
      • Perry Municipal Airport
      • Planning & Zoning
      • Fire Department
      • Police Department >
        • Perry Community Camera Program
        • Citizen Inquiry/Complaint Form
      • Public Works
      • Waste Water
    • Boards & Commissions >
      • Airport Commission
      • Historic Preservation
      • Library Board
      • Parks & Recreation
      • Planning & Zoning
      • Tree Board
      • Zoning Board of Adjustment
    • Code of Ordinances
    • Contacts & Staff Directory
    • Website Disclaimer
  • Perry Next
  • Resident Info
    • AmeriCorps Perry
    • ​Tree Trimming and Ash Tree Removal
    • City Projects Blog
    • Downtown Improvements
    • City Newsletters
    • Public Service Announcements
    • Snow Ordinances
    • Fireworks
    • Waste Water Treatment Plant Project
    • Garbage & Recycling
    • Yard Waste
    • Property Maintenance
    • Rental Property Code Enforcement
    • Community Calendar
    • Contacts & Staff Directory
    • Links of Interest
    • Maps
    • Media/ News
  • Chamber of Commerce
    • 2024-2025 Perry Iowa Community Guide + Member Directory
    • About Us >
      • Contact Us
      • Member Benefits
      • New Member Application
      • Member Login
    • Member Directory
    • Map of Businesses
    • Job Postings
    • Events >
      • Calendar
      • BRR
      • Farmers Market
      • July 4th Celebration
      • RVTV
      • Weather
  • Business & Development
    • Community Development >
      • Tax Abatement
      • Child Care Survey
      • Zoning/Building Permit Application
      • Solar Resources
      • Residential Development
      • Sustainability
    • Incentives
    • Sites and Buildings
    • Greater Dallas County Development Alliance
    • Perry Economic Development, Inc.
    • Business Resources
    • Plans & Studies >
      • Comprehensive Plan 2030
      • Housing Studies
      • Iowa Living Roadways- Community Visioning
  • Culture & Recreation
    • McCreary Center
    • Camping
    • Public Parks
    • Dog Park
    • Trails
    • Carnegie Library Museum
    • Hometown Heritage
    • Forest Park Museum
  • I Want To . . .
  • NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS