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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis: A truck dumps dirt along the Miami and Erie Canal towpath where it crosses Ohio 66. The project will make it easier for those using the towpath to cross Ohio 66.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Hiker, bikers and walkers in the region will notice a
difference in a few sections of the Miami and Erie Canal towpath trail
starting this week.
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The cutting edge |
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Monday, 05 January 2009 |
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 Staff photo/Katie Yantis
Mike Rowen, left, cuts his father Chuck Rowen’s hair at Mike’s barbershop — The Buzz Shop — in St. Marys.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Politics, sports and women are all topics that one could hear when walking into a barbershop — and those shops in St. Marys are no different.
Downtown St. Marys has several barbershops, all with their own histories and unique touches, from a barber who has been in St. Marys for 47 years to a new barber in town who has been there for a year.
Chickasaw resident Jerry Rentz sat in his cutting chair watching golf as he reminisced on the last 51 years of being a barber, 47 of which have been in St. Marys.
“My oldest brother was a barber and he talked me into it,” Rentz said. “I wanted to be a school teacher.”
Rentz decided to go to barber school and finished in November 1958. As a loyal customer walked in to get the usual cut, Rentz tried to think of highlights of the past.
“I’ve cut some actual real celebrities,” Rentz said. “I cut Gary Moeller and Galen Cisco.”
He said throughout the years, he can remember events that have occurred more than one time.
“I had people pass out and little kids throw up,” Rentz said.
Customer Harry Miley sat and reminisced along with Rentz as he received his usual hair cut.
“I have been coming here ever since you came to town,” Miley said. “I started coming here when you were across the street.”
Rentz and Miley remembered one vivid event within the history of Rentz’s barbershop.
“When I was over at 138, when the building caught on fire, we were downstairs and the guy lived above us,” Rentz said. “I was cutting a naval recruiter’s hair and smoke came through the vents.”
Rentz said they left the building and he didn’t see the recruiter again.
Miley said he likes going to Rentz’s barbershop because of the barbers.
“The barbers, they always have a good joke and he gives a lot of good advice,” Miley said with a laugh.
Rentz said barbers always have the answers.
“We know all the answers, if we don’t we make something up,” Rentz said.
Rentz said the barbershop is a place where guys go to feel comfortable.
“You can say what’s on your mind,” Rentz said. “Barbershops are the same wherever you go, talk about sports and politics. We solve all problems.”
The same goes for those down the street visiting Denny James in his barbershop.
James said he will be celebrating 10 years in his shop next month.
“I went to barber school fresh out of high school,” James said.
James said his favorite part about being a barber is getting to talk to all the different people.
As he joked with Auglaize County Sheriff Deputy Mike Eberle while cutting his hair, James said how much he enjoys the barbershop.
“I hope to retire here, if business will let me,” James said.
James said he runs the shop alone.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” James said.
Eberle said he enjoys going to the barbershop and added that his son also gets his haircut at Denny’s Barbershop.
“It’s like a good home town barbershop,” Eberle said. “He is a good barber.”
While Rentz and James have years full of memories, Minster resident and St. Marys native Mike Rowen said he is looking to build those years of memories at The Buzz Shop.
“I opened a little over a year ago,” Rowen said.
Rowen said his interest in being a barber started at a young age.
“It started back when I was young cutting my buddies’ hair,” Rowen said. “I always liked it.”
Rowen said he could never see himself working in an office.
“I talked to my dad about what it could be like to have your own shop and it was appealing to me,” Rowen said.
Rowen attended All Sports Barber College in Dayton. Following his graduation, he worked in Sidney for four years.
Rowen said he works by himself and looks forward to the coming years, after business has picked up since opening.
“It was a slow start, but it’s been really good as of late,” Rowen said. “I am here for the long haul.”
Rowen said he enjoys the business and the opportunities it presents.
“Each day is different,” Rowen said. “I don’t have a boss. I meet a lot of neat people and it’s pretty laid back.”
As Rowen prepared to close for the day he had one more cut — his father’s.
“This one is a free one,” Rowen said.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 09 January 2009 )
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