It was with sadness that I learned two weeks ago of the passing of Burt Ware Jr., a longtime barber in the Newberry area. He had gained a great reputation as a beloved barber and friend to many people. I thought it might be appropriate to dust off an article I wrote about Burt 13 years ago, in 2009, and so here it is, and I hope it brings back fond memories for those of you who knew and enjoyed Burt.
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There was the Barber of Seville, there was Sweeney Todd, Mayberry had “Floyd the Barber,” and Newberry has “Burt the Barber.”
On June 22, 2009, Burt Ware Jr., known to many as “Burt the Barber,” will celebrate his 50th anniversary of operating his barbershop at 611 Arch Street, in the Newberry section of Williamsport.
There has been a barbershop at that location for almost 70 years. Burt said Al Carducci operated a barbershop there from the late 1930s to 1955 when his father, Burt Ware Sr., took over the shop, and in 1959, Burt Jr. took over the business. The business has now become a three-generation affair with Burt’s son, Burt III, helping out at the shop.
“I got interested in barbering early. My father was a barber, and he worked for Joe Barone. Joe was like a grandfather to me and would take me fishing a lot,” Burt told Webb Weekly. “I really liked what I saw in barbering and loved sweeping up the shop as a kid; later, I started cutting hair on an informal basis when I was 14, and I could hardly wait to get my working papers when I was 16 so that I could really start cutting hair on a regular basis with my dad.”
There is a homey, old-fashioned, wholesome atmosphere at Burt’s, where he and his customers discuss the affairs of the day, trying to solve all the problems and issues that face the world in their own folksy no-nonsense way.
Burt and his customers, many of whom have been with him since the beginning, swap stories, jokes, and loveable insults with one another. It is a throwback to a time that no longer exists and, therein, probably lays its appeal to Burt and his many customers.
“I think my favorite thing about being a barber is my customers. They are more than just customers; they are friends. I love meeting and dealing with people. It really gives me a kick to know that I have cut hair for five generations of guys in some families,” Burt said. “I have a great job. I get to be where it is warm in the winter and where it is cool and the summer and be with people that I like and have a lot of fun with.”
He said that working in his shop has been like getting a college education because he has clipped the hair of people from so many walks of life and has learned so much from them.
“I cut hair for both paupers and millionaires and recently have seen some of the millionaires become paupers again,” Burt said. “I have gotten some good investment tips over the years on both property and on stocks, and that has been a nice byproduct of my work.”
Burt has been referred to as “Burt the Butcher” as well. “I think I got that name when I was helping Norm Wool with his butchering, and of course, some people think I’m ‘Burt the Butcher’ perhaps because of some of my haircuts, but I can tell you that I haven’t lost an ear yet,” Burt said.
Burt recalls that his first customer on that June 1959 day was Chuck Truckenmiller.
Burt’s wife wishes he would slow down a little at the shop since he works about 60 hours a week. In addition to his shop hours, he said he also cuts hair at nursing homes, hospitals, and funeral parlors. “I think being at the shop so many hours helps my wife a lot and keeps our marriage happy,” Burt laughingly said.
“The biggest change I have seen in the barbering business over the past 50 years is the number of women getting into the business; when I started out, the only woman I remember being a barber was Mary Barone,” Burt said.
Burt has customers who come from all over the area, including Liberty, Canton, Jersey Shore, and Muncy.
“I love what I do and look forward to what I do every day. I guess I will keep doing it until they carry me out of here,” Burt said.
Let us hope that they don’t carry Burt out for a very long time.
