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BENNY'S 100-YEAR-OLD WESTSIDE BARBERSHOP

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Contributed by: Dave Hughes on 4/10/2008

Benny's 100-Year-Old Westside Barbershop

Twenty-five years ago two reporters stepped into Benny's Barbershop at 727 and 1/2 West Colorado Avenue and told him they were doing a story for the Gazette Telegraph about "old barbers.' Could they interview him? He said, "I am NOT an old barber" and kicked them out.

That's the last time anyone has tried to interview Benny until I showed up today, as I usually do, to get my haircut. I noticed he was reading the Gazette in one of two barber chairs when I came in pretty early. I asked him whether he reads the Hub. Yes he sees it, but he does not get the Westside edition since he lives on Prospect in Colorado Springs.

Since I was already mulling around what I should next write about in the Hub - wars, politics, protests, or Colorado City saloons - I asked him a few questions about how long had he been here. I got Benny to start talking! Usually he lets his endless parade of customers, many long timers, who sit in one of the six waiting chairs, do the talking. And only interjecting comments occasionally. I have always enjoyed listening to the westside chatter while waiting. But today it was just Benny and I for a good half hour.

And from Benny I learned a lot of history from this now "older" barber - 69 - still going strong in the same place he has cut hair - alone - for 47 years! I learned the startling fact that his barber shop is at least 100 years old! For he told me he started as an apprentice under a westside barber named John Piner in 1961 who said he bought the Barber Shop from an earlier barber in 1919! And that Piner thought there had been a barber shop there even before then.

It only took me a few minutes at the Old Colorado City History Center to look up an old Polk City Directory to see that one Henry R Robinson was indeed a Barber right there - at 727 ½ West Huerfano Street in 1907. 101 years ago! Huerfano street was the name in Colorado Springs right up to Limit Street, until 1917 when Colorado Springs annexed the original Colorado City, and renamed the still unpaved road Colorado Avenue. The oldest street name in El Paso County.

So Benny's barbershop had been there at least 100 years! In fact John Piner had bought the shop in 1919 from an Italian barber named James Saville. Who bought it from Robinson in 1907. Only four barbers in 101 years.

Benny had stories from one man from Manitou who knew local history, mistrusted paper dollars, so paid for his haircuts only in silver dollars - some of which Benny still has. (I told him that if the paper dollar slips much more, I will be buying gold and paying for mine the same way). And the Fire Station close by where firemen and Barber Piner went down a ladder through a trap door in the Fire Station, and gambled. At least until Westside kids led a cow into the fire station and pushed it down through the trap door! It took a couple days to get that cow out!

Benny Vallejo is a native of Colorado Springs. Has been married to Marilyn for 48 years, has 4 children. He owns and has lived in his home on Prospect for 47 years because he wasn't able to buy the detached barber shop and house at 727 until 1974. So he rents that house behind the small barber shop building that stands by itself on the property. 727 1/2

While waiting for my hair cuts in his shop I always have looked over three things. As a Bronco fan he has plenty of banners and player photos, and a betting pool chart right by the barber chair where people can calculate their odds while being trimmed.

Then on the wall next to the customer waiting chairs he has the best collection I've seen of four framed early photographs of Downtown Colorado Springs - the classic view westward on Pikes Peak with the great twin towered Antlers Hotel and the Peak framed by it. Worth getting your hair cut there just to see and study those photos.

And an interesting large poster sized photo of Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe and John Dean from a film.

And I see evidence of his love of vintage Ford cars on the walls. Especially 1934 and 1936 Fords. He owns four of them, in immaculate condition, pictured here. He has taken them to shows for the last 23 years. He is proudest of his entries being recognized last year in the big National Street Rod Association auto show in Pueblo, by a Plaque he now hangs on the shop wall.

Whose hair has he cut? He says Lawyers, Policemen, Construction workers, Soldiers, Judges, Bridge People, Doctors, Politicians, and even an Astronaut! Everyone. "No famous people" he says. Real people by my accounting. Salt of the earth people, many westsiders.

And even though he has a second barber chair next to the one he cuts from, it sits empty, unless patrons overflow his six other waiting chairs. Or a repeat customer wants to read Benny's newspaper and move closer to chat.

Benny said after he took over the shop in 1961 he never hired a second barber. Yet he never seems hurried. Maybe its because his customers like the slowed down pace and comfortable atmosphere, and talk. And they like Benny. He cuts hair from 8:30 to 5, Tuesday through Saturdays. By his accounting he has only missed 12 days off, out sick, in these 47 years.

Forty years ago he could charge $1.50. Even then some westsiders thought that was a steep price. Now he has to charge $11.00. Which people gladly pay - and tip Benny.

Benny has such a loyal following that he has cut the hair of three, four, and in at least one case FIVE generations of the same family. I photographed one of them, Marty Cox being trimmed. He is a third generation customer. Marty's cousin has a fourth generation member cut by Benny.

That says something about Benny's quality of service at the little 100-year-old Westside barber shop with a fractional address, a small traditional barber pole outside, and Benny inside. All on the bend of Colorado Avenue where it comes uphill from downtown Colorado Springs and straightens out pointing west toward historic Old Colorado City and Pikes Peak.

And passed by for 100 years by those Gazette reporters who never came back.

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Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 4/17/2008 @ 9:21:25 PM

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Well, the Print Hub carried this story this morning. All of Benny's customers were happy, because he was able to loan them a paper copy to read while they waited.

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Dave Hughes

Colorado Springs , CO

Dave Hughes has posted 77 stories and 87 comments since joining on 3/1/2007. Dave Hughes 's average story rating is 4.9.

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