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Do You Remember?

Do you Remember?

Virginia Berry  /  January 26, 2012  /  Views: 13  /   No Comments

Gilbert E. Barnett

This St. Francisville barber went by the name of Gib. Margarette E. Barnett, known as Marge, was his wife. Residents remember her for making them laugh as she would say funny things - keeping them in stitches with laughter. I don't remember Gib and Marge having any children, but they lived at the top of the river hill. Just farther west of Main Street was Gib and his father's barber shop.

There were four barber shops in St. Francisville at one time. Barnett's, George Hart's, Merl Brooke's, and Dopey Mallot's. You could get more than a haircut in these businesses. At Hart's and Dopey's one would hear them playing almost any kind of instrument, such as a banjo, guitar, and the mandolin. People would come to listen - inside and out.

At Merl's shop, underneath the post office on Main Street, you could get a quick hair cut and then hurry on back to play pinochle, poker, and euchre.

The Barnett's started a side business of shining shoes. The barber who wasn't busy would shine the shoes. This quickly caught on at the Hart shop, also. Clients could get an "education" on farming to politics at the barber shop.

Gib and Marge both served in World War II. They were both born in 1909. Gib died in 1968 and later on Marge would die in 1984. They will be remembered fondly as serving their country and for their friendly business in St. F. They were buried in St. Francisville at Oaklawn Cemetary. Do you remember?

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