Name/Title
Barber Pole, 1879Entry/Object ID
1981.87.1Description
Acc. No. 81.87.1
Subject Category: Business (Barber)
Date: 1880
Subject: Barber Pole
Description:
This is a wooden pole, and it is complete- made out of a solid piece of wood that has been turned on a lathe. Original polychrome colors of red, white, and blue. The top of the pole is surmounted by a round ball. The original colors are badly chipped.
Size: pole: 57 inches tall; circumference ball: 3 1/2 inches.
History of Object: This barber pole stood in front of the shop of Mr. Charles Sturms, 1547 Webster Street, for thirty-eight years. It was located next to Hickman's Grocery Store and there was a dance hall above. Mr. and Mrs. Sturms owned a boarding house on the corner of Haight Avenue and 8th Street. He was also one of the first volunteer fireman and was 75 years old when he died. The barber pole was then sold to Mr. Saul Dischel who owned it for fifty years. The pole dates back to about 1879. Formerly barbers practiced surgery and dentistry and were called barber surgeons.
Acquired from : Mr. Saul Dischel
Date: April, 1954