Monday Profiles are published on the first Monday of each month.
MOUNT CARMEL - Thoughts of a traditional barbershop bring certain images to mind: a red-and-white striped pole, a few military veterans swapping stories in a quiet corner, the distinct sound of a steel blade being sharpened against a leather strap, the smells of hair treatments and tonics.
While in many places that scene has been replaced with the modern look and orderly procession of today's salons, it can still be found in a small shop along Third Street in Mount Carmel.
Roy Edmonds Barber Shop, in fact, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2011.
"I've been too lazy to really work, so I did this," Edmonds joked while cutting hair for one of his clients on Thursday, that crack just one of many heard during a late-morning visit.
Edmond, who noted he started with a wooden barber chair donated to him by Eddie Schetroma, credited Tony Schetroma, who co-signed a $600 loan, in getting started.
Eddie Schetroma currently lives in Seventh and Locust streets. Tony Schetroma has been a customer for 50 years, coming in every two weeks, and currently lives in Mount Carmel Assisted Living.
Ever since then, young and old have come to the shop for a haircut and some fun conversation with the 74-year-old Mount Carmel man, who learned his trade in the U.S. Navy in 1956.
Coming back home
Edmonds' first job outside the military was at a shop in Bristol, Tenn., through which he supported his wife and daughter. But it wasn't long before they came "home."
"One day my wife said to me that she was getting homesick for Mount Carmel, so I talked with a truck driver friend of mine to see if he would haul some furniture for me up north," Edmonds said. "My boss's jaw dropped when he heard I was leaving."
Using his start-up money, Edmonds rented a basement room in a Third Street office building, where he continues to operate today.
"I first rented the building from Ed Belfanti, and after he died, I rented from Louie Cohen. Currently, it's with the attorney, Richard Feudale," he said. "I think I've paid for the building twice over, but everyone knows where I am."
Only survivor
Edmonds Barber Shop will celebrate its golden anniversary in May, having survived five decades in a business that was once so popular there were 20 members in the Local 150 barbers union. Edmonds, who served as secretary-treasurer of the group, is now its last surviving member.
But he is working to keep the tradition alive, training an apprentice, Jess Hatfield, to take over the business when he retires.
"It's all about personality; that's the secret in business," Edmonds said, now taking care of another customer. "Any barber can cut a good head of hair, but when you have fun with your customers and they like you, they come back and give it right back to you."
A 'lousy haircut'
That kind of teasing relationship with his customers was evident in a story Edmonds related about a customer coming in for a special haircut.
"He was telling me about how he was going to travel to Rome and get an audience with the Pope, and I didn't believe him," Edmonds said. "Two weeks later, he came back in and I asked him if he met the Pope and he said he did," Edmonds said, surprised that the man had been successful in his pursuit.
He asked what the pope said, and the customer answered, "Where did you get that lousy haircut?"
Edmonds was the victim of another joke on his 70th birthday when he was told to take down a picture of the USS Philadelphia on his wall, since he never served on that ship.
A few minutes later, his old friend and customer Dave Skocik arrived in his "Navy dress blues" and presented him with a gift: a framed photo of the ship on which Edmonds did serve, the USS Boston. The jokester had tears in his eyes that day.
"I've been blessed with great friends and customers, not only from here in Mount Carmel," he said, "but Aristes, Kulpmont, Marion Heights, Natalie, Locust Gap."
A few exceptions
Edmonds said he welcomes any and all customers, but, beware, you'll have to wait your turn if he's busy.
In fact, there'd be just two exceptions to that rule.
"Billy Graham and the Pope; they are the only two that get to jump the line," Edmonds said.