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Chateau Laurier Barber Shop

Chateau Laurier Barber Shop[1]



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  • Name Chateau Laurier Barber Shop 
    Gender Unknown 
    City Directories 1949  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Person ID I19560  Lowertown
    Last Modified 19 Jul 2018 

  • Photos
    Chateau Laurier Barber Shop
    Chateau Laurier Barber Shop
    (Photo: Bytown Museum

  • Notes 
    • A Rich History: The Barber's Chair from the Chateau Laurier

      By Grant Vogl, Collections and Exhibitions Manager

      The Bytown Museum continues to acquire new pieces of
      our cultural history through the generosity of our donors.
      Featured here is our newest acquisition, a beautiful Theo
      A. Koch barber's chair, which was kindly donated to our
      collection by Robert Morvan. This unique artefact holds a
      great many stories, and is a truly fascinating piece of
      Ottawa history.

      Purchased by the Château Laurier Barber Shop around
      1912 for a whopping $75.00, this Koch's "one-lever
      hydraulic barber's chair" served as the seat of politicians,
      soldiers, and businessmen. This beautiful and ornate
      piece features quarter-sawn oak, nickel-plated steel
      flourishes, and a plush leather seat stuffed with horsehair.
      Fully adjustable, the chair's hydraulics remain in working
      order, and it was donated in excellent condition along
      with two original leather strops.

      The history of the Barber Shop at the Château is full of
      famous names and faces; both Prime Ministers Mackenzie
      King and Louis St. Laurent visited the shop weekly for a
      cut and shave. It is as yet unclear how long this chair
      remained in use at the Château before becoming part of
      the private collection of barber Vincent Boileau, who cut
      hair at the Château for 33 years, and later Mr. Morvan,
      but further research may reveal just how rich the story of
      this chair truly is.
      A RECENT ACQUISITION
      Weiss & Son,
      Surgical Tools of Dr. H.P. Hill
      , 1834, wood, metal and
      ivory, Bytown Museum, 1982.125.01. (Photo; Bytown Museum)
      Theo. A. Kochs Company,
      Barber's Chair,
      c. 1912,
      oak, leather and steel, Bytown Museum,
      E2011.002.01. (Photo: Bytown Museum)

  • Sources 
    1. [S247] page 193, Pink Street Guide.