New Tonsorial Saloon! Rushford Tonsorial Emporium

Those are the headlines for advertising barbers’ services in Rushford . . . but what is a tonsorial artist? Tonsorial is a fancy word that describes the work of those who give shaves and haircuts. (It can apply more broadly to hairdressers as well.) It derives from the Latin verb tondēre, meaning "to shear, clip, or crop." (Another descendant, tonsor, is an archaic word for a barber.)*

 The art of being a barber seems like they would need a license in weaponry – a sharp blade across the patron’s face without drawing blood. And those that could afford the luxury of going to the barber looked forward to the hot towel, a good lather, the shave and lotion. The barbershop was open seven days a week in the early 1800s – then in 1887 it was determined that by law, the barbershops would be closed on the Sabbath.**

Here are the successful barbers that hung their “shingle” out and served the area.

• 1867-1868 – 1st identified tonsorial artists: John Jordan & Joseph Elmore

• 1869 – 3 more tonsorial artists, George Webb, Charles Lowungson & Sam Johnson

• 1871 – Leonard Martin

• 1872 – Daniel Hoffman; Edward Larson (Restaurant & Barbershop)

• 1876 – Alex Shearer

• 1877 – John Reynolds 1880 – Garry Rogers

• 1881 – William Henry Blanchfield dynasty was started – continued his profession into the 1950s with family participation and over the years diversified the business with cigars, shoe shining and beauty products for men

• 1913 – Mr. V. Caswell 1923 – Albert Marin

• 1925 – E.E. Lund; transferred proprietorship to Helmuth Zabel (1926)

• 1931 – George B Haslerud with Berand “Stub” Iverson as apprentice

• 1954 – Robert Merill

• 1955 – Joel Hatleli, took over from Blanchfield family

• 1963 – Bernard “Stub” Iverson

• 1979 – Tim Riggle

 *Merriam-Webster Dictionary online

** Railroad Boom Town – Dr. Droivold book (pg 311, Chapter 12) (Droivold books are available to purchase from the Rushford Area Historical Society)

early 1900s