Marlee Wants To Know About The Olden Days

"Grandma B what does Grandma Lu mean when she talks about the olden days in her stories that you read to me? Did you live in the olden days like my daddy says?"
If it was possible Grandma B coughed and spluttered and attempted to smile all at the same time. "Well, your very old daddy lived in the olden days too. No, I'm just kidding. The olden days that Grandma Lu talks about were years and years ago when her grandparents were alive and even their parents were alive."
Marlee said, "Well my mama has a beauty shop and she said you used to have one too. Did they have beauty shops in the olden days?"
Today was a nice day for the two (2) of them. They were at a small cafe and enjoying the time they had together. Marlee was only two years old, but she was beginning to ask a lot of questions lately which is a good thing.
"Well, give me a minute. Let me think back when I went to cosmetology school it seemed like the first beauty shop for women was actually started in the really olden days about 1888. The girl's name was Martha Matilda Harper. When she was just about seven (7) years old she became a servant. A servant in those days was a person that worked for rich people for little or no pay. She worked for a doctor and he is the one that taught her how to take care of people's hair. She saved her little pay for years
 and years and finally had enough saved to open up a beauty shop which was called a salon. She was so smart she invented the first shampoo chair that laid back. Before she opened up a shop hair stylists went to ladies' homes or had their servants do their hair. She had really long hair clear down to the floor.
Do you remember taking a walk with Mrs. Owens?

Well she told you about barber shops in the olden days, but I don't think she told you about beauty shops did she? The barber shops were mainly for men. Sometimes they would cut men's hair and also give them a shave. When you and Mrs. Owens went to the library that building used to be a barbershop. I think I remember you telling me about that. A haircut in the old days depending on where you lived could be a cheap as a quarter. You are a big girl and know what is quarter looks like, don't you? If you lived in a city it would cost a little more. Now a hair cut is about $20.00 more or less, again depending on where you live and of course, the owner of the beauty shop.
Joyce's Beauty Shop started out there on the other side of the barber shop. Later on then she moved into a brick building that once was the M.F.A. grocery store. Mrs. Owens used Joyce's Beauty shop as a landmark frequently when she was directing people to different places in town in her little history booklets that she wrote."
"Well, look who's here. Grandma Lu. What are you doing in town today, my friend?"
" Oh nothing much just doing some errands. What are you two (2) talking about?" So they started talking about beauty shops and of course, once again Grandma Lu had a story. Or should I say lots of stories.
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Here is a video you may or may not enjoy watching. It is the history of Martha Matilda Harper. I love history so I thought I would put this in for those of you that would like to hear it.
This is the beginning of what I will call the Beauty Shop series.