The Cahow Barber Shop is located in Chapman,

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

. It is a false-front building of frame construction with a gable roof and linteled door and window hoods, built in 1889. It is listed in the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

; its historical significance derives from its age, its architectural design, and its association with author-photographer

Wright Morris Wright Marion Morris (January 6, 1910 – April 25, 1998) was an American novelist, photographer, and essayist. He is known for his portrayals of the people and artifacts of the Great Plains in words and pictures, as well as for experimenting wit ...

History and description

The barber shop was built in 1889, but little else is known about its history until Luther Cahow (born in

Stuart Stuart may refer to: People *Stuart (name), a given name and surname (and list of people with the name) * Clan Stuart of Bute, a Scottish clan *House of Stuart, a royal house of Scotland and England Places Australia Generally *Stuart Highway, ...

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

) purchased the barber shop in 1902. He barbered in it for 47 years and sold it in 1949. It is rectangular, one-story, wood-frame structure with a false-front and gable roof. It has been restored by the Lone Tree Literary Society, preserving the original structure including the foundation of limestone runners and the original clapboard siding. It was constructed from May to December in 1889 and still stands on its original site. It was altered from two rooms to one by removing the interior wall dividing the original two rooms. The front half of the interior had the original interior replaced with dry wall while the back half retained the original wainscot and plaster. The three windows and three doors are original. The original contents of the building (barber chair, mirror and backboard, clock, barber sink, and benches) are housed in the Merrick County Museum in Central City. The Cahow Barber Shop is historically significant for several reasons. Perhaps the most important reason is its relationship to

. It appears in his literary works and photographs, and is where his father (William Henry Morris) first met his mother (Grace Osborn). Architecturally it is significant, because it is one of the only remaining 19th century false-front buildings in Merrick County.

References

External links

Tree Literary SocietyMerrick County
{{National Register of Historic Places Buildings and structures in Merrick County, Nebraska Commercial buildings completed in 1889 Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Nebraska National Register of Historic Places in Merrick County, Nebraska Western false front architecture Barber shops

History and description

See also

References

External links