Lewiston barber's been at the task for 52 years

By Davis Archibald

March 24, 2008 | LEWISTON -- What do some residents of Soda Springs, Idaho, and Wellsville have in common? They are both willing to travel to Lewiston's sole barbershop, run by Vaughn Blair.

The barbershop has been in the same place, run by Blair, for the last 52 years and he's known many of his customers all of their lives.

"It's all B.S. and cutting hair," Blair said.

Customers come from as far as Preston, Franklin, Clifton, Dayton and Malad, Idaho to get a haircut from Blair.

But things have definitely changed in the years since Blair started cutting hair. When he started, a haircut was 75 cents and shave was 50 cents. Blair no longer does shaves and a haircut costs $6 now.

"It's a lot slower than it used to be," Blair said.

"They're dying off, that's the problem," Blair said in reference to his customers.

Blair was born and raised in Lewiston and after serving in the armed forces he decided to go to barber school in Salt Lake City. After a year of school and a year apprenticeship in Salt Lake, Blair set up shop in Logan. After a brief stint there he moved to Lewiston and has been there ever since.

Kyle Smith, a Wellsville resident, has been going to Blair since he was a child and has become good friends with Blair. Smith says Blair is the only one he trusts to cut his hair.

"Who else can you come to for entertainment," Smith said.

NW
MS