When I was growing up, I recall that the first barbershop I went to as a child was located on the west side of Bank Row in Greenfield. It was located inside a large storefront with at least two or possibly three chairs. It was fully staffed with excellent barbers. You had to wait your turn and, once you were in a chair, you could see yourself in very large panels of mirrored glass that hung from its walls.
As I got older, I started going to Mark Hanna’s barbershop, which was on the south side of Main Street near Sullivan’s Drug Store. I liked him very much, but he has since closed his shop and moved to Maine.
On the lower end of Chapman Street was Frank Maleno’s barbershop — a clean and well-cared-for shop that I went to often before moving to Turners Falls in 1966.
Presently, there are not all that many barbershops in Greenfield. I guess not many people want to be a barber these days. But there are benefits in so doing, for, as a barber, you can talk to many people, make new friends and serve the public in a very tangible way.
Notably, there may have been other shops from years gone by that I cannot remember — but the one on Bank Row owned by the Siano family brings many happy memories back to me.
Robert Bitzer, of Erving is a lifelong resident of Franklin County, having been born in Greenfield. He is in his 90s and his columns are inspired by extensive photo albums and thorough collections of correspondence he has compiled over the years.