History is preserved in local barber shop
By KEVIN SKALICKY
DCN Reporter
Downtown Duluth has a barber shop that sticks out among its modern surroundings. In the window there are antique scissors, brushes, mirrors and combs on display for the pedestrians walking by. The door is frequently propped open during the day to let in the fresh air.
Those who walk through the door are immediately greeted by Dave Bastien, the man who has owned and operated the shop for 42 years. His short gray hair is complemented by his glasses that balance carefully near the tip of his nose. With a hand shake, he invites his customers to take a seat in the red leather barber’s chair.
Everything in the shop has a historic feel. Classical music plays from an old radio sitting above the mirror. The faded wallpaper is covered up in some spots by beautiful black and white photos of ships that have traveled Lake Superior. Located behind the chair is an antique cash register that is still used to deliver change to customers.
The noon customer is Ron Krause. He’s been getting his hair cut here for 25 years.
“How short are we going to go today?� Dave asks Ron as he raises the chair. Dave reaches for a chrome-colored pair of scissors and a black plastic comb. He walks slow circles around the chair examining the situation and begins adjusting the length accordingly. They chat about Ron’s upcoming hunting trip and the daily headlines.
“I’ve seen a lot of change out that window,� Dave says. Dave later refers to the increasing crime rate, the frequent police sirens and even the physical appearance of the buildings.
The conversation shifts as Dave tells Ron of a drunken college student who broke into his house three weeks ago.
“He climbed through the window above the sink, took his shoes off, wandered around the house and even went through the refrigerator,� he adds. “Elizabeth (Dave’s wife) came down stairs and told him to ‘get the hell out of here!’ Then she watched him walk down the street and start pulling on another door knob,� Dave says.
In response to many student-related problems, recent legislation in Duluth has limited the number of houses rented by unrelated people, such as college students, that can exist in a certain area. Many local people like Dave, who live in the Central Hillside, have been fighting off the excessive noise and other problems of college housing for years.
“The new laws will help, but it won’t solve everything,� Dave mentions.
“I just call the police. Calling their parents doesn’t solve anything, but frequently calling the police will,� he adds.
While it seems like everything else is constantly changing, Dave’s shop lacks new technology and probably hasn’t changed since Dave became the owner many years ago. Whether it was by accident or by intention, the past is preserved in this friendly barber shop.