The barber pole, featuring red, white and blue stripes, has been a well-known symbol of the barber craft in the United States for generations.
Good news for Owego, one particular barber pole will continue to revolve following the retirement of its owner. Lynn Rea, owner of Lynn’s Barber Shop located at 138 Main St. in Owego, has decided to retire after a 59-year career. His last day is planned for Aug. 28.
Rea remarked, “While I have good health, I want to enjoy the healthy years.”
Stepping in as owner is Patrick Elston, who also manages the Broad Street Barbershop in Waverly, N.Y.
Elston, a Master Barber, will continue his work at the Waverly shop while Lindsey Thetga will assume the schedule at the Owego location. Future plans include bringing on board a second barber in Owego.
“I love the trade,” shared Elston, who is a graduate of Shear Ego International in Rochester, N.Y. A Tioga County native, Elston grew up in Barton.
Elston commented, “I have wanted a second shop,” and added, “It’s a true honor to be purchasing this from Lynn and carrying on the tradition. Lynn has had an excellent reputation as a barber, and his legacy is unmatched.”
During the transition phase, Thetga has been meeting Lynn’s customers, and dozens of them who have filled the waiting room at Lynn’s Barber Shop for decades.
Thetga graduated from the New York Beauty and Barber Academy in Elmira, and is also a native of Tioga County.
In regard to Lynn’s retirement, Thetga stated, “I have big shoes to fill here,” and added that she is excited for the opportunity.
Establishing trust and a level of comfort is on the forefront of Thetga’s and Elston’s minds, as is forming a bond with customers, so that the regulars stay regulars and new customers will feel at home, too, inside the quaint Main Street shop.
Inside the shop, three antique barber chairs will see continued use. Dating back more than 100 years, Rea claimed them from the previous owner. The word “Chicago” is etched in the footrest of one of them.
Lynn Rea came to Owego in 1962 and first worked at a barbershop on North Avenue before opening his own shop in 1964. The initial chapter of Rea’s inspiring career began when his parents handed him a ticket south to attend the Philadelphia Institute of Barbering, a profession that also ran in the family.
Lynn’s grandfather, Orin Rea, along with Harry Van Zandt and Walter Norton, were all barbers at the Terminal Barber Shop on Broad Street in Waverly. And, it’s that piece of history that connects Rea to Elston today.
In the waiting area at Lynn’s Barber Shop, customers will find a black and white photo of the Terminal Barber Shop dated 1916, and which shows barbers in classic attire, large mirrors on the walls and a rack full of old-style shaving mugs. Elston has since restored and installed the mirrors seen in the photo back inside his Broad Street Barber Shop.
Two other long-term barbershops also remain open in Owego, which is not only a testament to the profession, but the appeal of them as a community-gathering place, too.
“I’ve had a wonderful career,” Rea said, adding, “And I’ve loved coming to work every day.”
Rea has experienced all types of hair cut trends, too, from the classic “GI haircuts” following the World War II era, to longer styles after the Beatles invasion, to today’s traditional looks and new trends, along with some one-of-a-kind requests.
But, most of all, it’s the sense of community that Lynn Rea will remember fondly. He is grateful for his clients, those in the shop’s quarter and half-century clubs, and is thankful to the generations of families who made Lynn’s Barber Shop a family tradition.
For information and appointments, including walk-in hours, the barbershop phone number remains the same, (607) 687-5161.
Lynn Congratulations on your retirement! Well deserved hope can enjoy the relaxation of retirement. Well done my friend.