STEVENSVILLE, Mont. — A search through the records at the Montana Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists is fairly conclusive: Steve Skalsky's barber license is older than most state employees.
"Scalpin' Skalsky" (that's what the sign reads next to his mirror) got his license on June 28, 1949, as he was part-way through a three-year apprenticeship. On Nov. 7, he turned 90 years old.
He's got no plans to retire.
Skalsky's Stevensville barber shop has barely changed since he took it over in 1951. The cash register is older than that — original with the premises. Both it and he still work just fine.
"You still have the same girlfriend?" he asks a happily married regular who comes in for a pre-Thanksgiving trim. "Then I'll give you the same haircut."
Skalsky's legacy of service has recently drawn a visit from University of Montana photojournalism student Justine Schulerud, Bitterroot Star publisher Michael Howell and now the Missoulian. Ironically, talking about his time with the scissors isn't one of Skalsky's favorite pastimes. In a barbershop treasured for its conversation, Skalsky says the secret is to stay quiet.
"I get them talking amongst themselves, and I just listen," he said of his steady flow of customers. "It's mostly gossip. There's two things I don't let them talk about, religion and politics."
He also sticks to what he knows best — the classic men's business trim.
"I'm still the old-fashioned barber, no fancy stuff," he said. "If somebody comes in and wants a fancy haircut, they have to go across the street. I don't put up with the long stuff."
The place is decorated with a picture of the Stevensville Roman Catholic Mission (which came with the shop), and an oil company calendar with all the presidents' portraits up to John Kennedy. He's put marks by the "bad ones," particularly Herbert Hoover. A counter holds nicknacks celebrating his Polish heritage and the life of a barber, including a fine hog's bristle shaving brush and a pewter mug.
There are also lots of photos of Skalsky's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He keeps the traditional bench board to boost up the littlest customers when they visit.
"I've got a great-grandson who's 4 years old," Skalsky said. "I've got a deal with him — if he moves, he don't get a dollar."
Skalsky grew up in Beulah, N. D., and moved to the Bitterroot shortly after graduating from Fargo's Moler Barber College. He apprenticed with Hamilton barber Jack Dunham from 1948 to 1951. His brother John also worked for Dunham, and the two Skalskys kept heads trimmed in Stevensville and Corvallis for decades.
When he took over, Skalsky charged 75 cents a haircut. Today, the charge is $10. The town's changed a bit too.
"When I come to Stevensville in '51, we had five grocery stores and two clothing stores. Now we don't have a grocery store, but we've got more people. It's the bedroom of Missoula."
After undergoing open-heart surgery 10 years ago, Skalsky opted to back off to four half-days. He works noon to 5 p.m., or whatever feels right: "I kind of play it by ear every day."
The sign over his cash register says "Born to Golf, Forced to Work." Golf and hunting are popular topics in the store, although he said he stays away from the topic of wolves. That counts as politics. Aside from taking a couple days off for the Thanksgiving holiday, Skalsky sees no break in the schedule.
"I've still got good legs and a steady hand," he said. "And I've got to do something."