Barber Pole spinning again in Malta

For the past 40 years, when men around Phillips County have needed to have their 'ears lowered,' Jerry Salveson has been there, scissors in hand, so when Salveson went down with an injury which sidelined him for three months, the county started looking a lot shaggier.

The small open sign that generally swings beneath the bigger Jerry's Barber Pole sign (and similar sized Tow Ropes sign ) hadn't been seen on Central Avenue in Malta for three months as Salveson dealt with a bulging disc in his back and surgery in which doctors removed 45-percent of the disc in question. Salveson officially made his return to his barbershop the last Tuesday in March (though he did sneak a lucky few in the previous Friday) and in-between snips of hair, he answered a phone that was nearly ringing off the hook.

"Doing pretty good," Salveson would say, "No, I can't fit you in today, so how about 3:30 p.m. tomorrow?"

Salveson has cut the barbershop's hours to 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (still closed on Mondays) following the surgery on his back.

"I kind of over did it yesterday," Salveson admitted. "I did 16 and I only wanted to do about 10. I was a little sore."

In his heyday, Salveson said he would give as many as 33 haircuts (though, he said when he was cutting that much hair, "there isn't a lot of detail.) These 64 this August - is happy to cut back some, but added that he isn't going anywhere soon.

"Though I am starting to like these half days pretty well," he said. "Maybe a little too well."

Each time Salveson answers the phone he follows up the pleasantries with something along the lines of "I'm doing better, thanks for asking," and that he will be able to fit them in for a haircut sooner or later. His first Wednesday back open, Salveson was asked to save a block of time at the end of the day to cut three generations of hair as members of the Greens were set to visit Jerry's Barber Pole; some for the hundredth time and one for the very first. While Jerry was out with his injury, Casey Green's (now 16-months old) flowing blond locks continued to grow as the little boy had never had his haircut and was waiting for his first ever cut to be by the local barber for the past 40 years, Salveson.

"That's a pretty good story," Orvin Solberg, visiting with Jerry before his afternoon of cutting hair began, said, "It's comparable only to Floyd on the Andy Griffith Show."

Solberg isn't far off in his estimation. There is no shortage of beauty salons in Phillips County and towns along the northern section of the Hi-Line, but finding a barber's shop in the area is next to impossible. Salveson said that there is nothing wrong with beauty salons but added he thinks his clientele enjoys the camaraderie to be had at the local barbershop and the conversation which follows.

The first Green up to get his locks trimmed is Kayden. As Salveson starts to buzz Kayden's hair, the young man asks his mother, Kendra, if he can get lightning bolts etched on either side of his head. Kendra says no at first, but after being asked a few more time, mother relents.

"Oh, I love this part," Kayden says and Salveson turns on the vacuum and sweeps away loose hair.

Next into the barber's chair is Marcus, Kayden's father (and as he does, Salveson has to turn away a walk-in haircut.) Marcus declines Salveson's offer to carve bolts into Marcus' head before finishing his haircut. Following Marcus in the chair is his father, Brian Green. Green said he has been coming to Jerry's Barber Pole once every three months since the shop opened (originally in the city's old bowling alley) in November of 1977.

"The difference between a good haircut and a bad one is two weeks," Brian kids his longtime barber.

Last up is Casey, to receive his first ever haircut. The Greens waited until Salveson got better and re-opened his shop. As Salveson trims away Casey's shaggy hair, Kendra starts to cry as her baby starts to look like a young man. Roger Ereaux, Casey's great grandfather, has also been getting his haircut at Jerry's Barber Pole, making the event a four-generation affair.

Jerry said he is sure there are plenty of Phillips County families of which he has cut hair for four different generations. After being out of service, he is happy to be back continuing traditions for local families.

"It is my honor and privilege," Salveson said.