DAD BOWMAN BARBERING AT 78
DAD BOWMAN is, at 78, as adept with the clippers and the shears as he was forty years ago. He is owner-proprietor of Dad's Barber Shop, over Putnam's Drug Store.
W. E. Bowman was born in the northernmost part of Vermont, at Newport, in February, 1864. When he was 3 his parents moved to Burke, Vt.
As a young man he traveled across the country and back, worked in California and intermediate points, finally returning east to Massachusetts—all this before 1900. Ultimately he worked in Claremont, N. H. He had become proficient as a trainer of fine horses. When he came to Claremont he had been hired by Moody's Ranch, whose owner was a Boston merchant who had an interest in raising top-flight trotting horses as an avocation.
So skilled in his profession did he become that he was in demand among a number of horse-owners in nearby sections. Several times he had an attractive offer in Hanover, but each time he decided to remain in Claremont. Finally, in 1894, he was prevailed upon to consider the Hanover offer, and he came to take care of Mrs. Howe's fine pair of horses, serving also as general caretaker and gardener. In his spare time he became familiar with local fishing streams, skilful with rod and reel.
It was not until later that he became a barber, and in 1897 his first job as such was in the employ of M. M. Amaral, in the old shop at Cobb's Store.
In 1900, Amaral's Barber Shop was moved to the then new Davison Block. In 1902 the Hanover Inn underwent alterations, and in August Dad Bowman became proprietor of the new Inn Barber Shop. For 29 years he was its owner, until, in 1931, he went into partnership with Walter Chase. Walt, in 1902, was the first man hired by Bowman in his new shop.
Dad acquired his nickname, he says, from a student advertising manager of the Daily Dartmouth. He had contracted for space in that publication, and when the advertisement first appeared the student had used his own nickname for W. E. Bowman. The name "Dad" stuck.
It was in 1919 that Dad met John M. Mecklin in July, to be exact, just after Mr. Mecklin had come to teach at Dartmouth. Professor Mecklin, it seems, was a fisherman, and on coming to Hanover he inquired up and down Main Street for information about river-fishing. "Who," he is said to have asked, "can tell me most about river-fishing?" All recommendations pointed to Dad Bowman. The two men consulted. Mr. Mecklin had a boat, and Dad had some suggestions. They went fishing together, and this was the beginning of a friendship that has grown rich through the years. These two fishermen may be found together on many a summer day if you know where to look.
In May 1940 Dad sold out his interests in the Inn Barber Shop to his partner, and opened a new shop in the present location. Many well-known barbers in Hanover first went to work for Dad. Many of them now have their own shops, among them Tony, Louie, Walt, and Ernie. Dad, dean of them all, may be found daily on the job at his shop, at 78.
Two FISHING COMPANIONS: JOHN MECKLIN AND DAD BOWMAN
