Barber Shop on Main Street, 1920s

Then as now, the patrons of barber shops discussed the important issues of the day.

The status of agriculture: 8 out of 10 men in the county were working in farming or logging. Burley tobacco was expanding as an important cash crop.

The condition of the roads: they were so deplorable that every man between the ages of 18–45 was made to work 9 hours a day, 6 days a week as volunteers in order to repair or complete them.

The government: the Federal Government had leased the White Sulphur Springs Hotel as a military hospital to treat veterans of World War I.

The gorge: Carolina Power and Light was building a massive dam in the Pigeon River Gorge and a 6.7 mile tunnel to a powerhouse at the state line—all agree it was an engineering marvel.

Photograph courtesy of Henry Foy, The Haywood County Library Digital Collection