The Old Fashioned Barber!
HOW “ANN THE BARBER” CAME TO BE

Around 1965 Art Thiessen started his own barbershop business and called it “Art The Barber”. He had a barbershop on Marr St, then on 2nd Street, and finally around 1980 at 183 S. Military Rd.
I went to St John’s Barber College in Phoenix, Arizona in 1984. In the late 80’s someone came up with the (not so) brilliant idea of merging barbering and cosmetology, and barber colleges began to close all over the country. The cosmetologists mostly thought this was a great idea, and it’s doubtful if any barbers at all thought it was. We all wondered: who will replace us one day?? You see, the training was distinctly different. I say that not to disrespect cosmetologists; they are accomplished in many areas: perms, colors, updo’s, skin care, nail care, ETC. But barbers approach a haircut much differently, and I think most people know what I’m talking about.
So, I found myself back in my native Wisconsin with a barbers’ license from Arizona that Wisconsin would not reciprocate. I had two small children at this time, and learned I would need to do 300 hours at a cosmetology school and take the WI state boards for Barber/Cosmetology licensing, even though it was unlikely I could get hired as a barber in the Fond du Lac or Oshkosh area; most barbershops were just one or two chairs and they were full up. So, I worked at a salon. I did do perms and colors, and ended up doing nails for awhile, but really still preferred barbering. It was during this time I met Art the Barber. Wanting my hair clipper cut with a 0 neckline I made an appointment with Art, and was a steady customer for quite a long time. Sometimes we’d swap haircuts, and he got to see that I was a legit barber. In 1992 I remarried and moved to the Chilton area, and began growing my family.
Fast forward to 2001: Art called and asked if I would like to work a couple days a week so he could ease into retirement, not wanting to leave his customers out in the cold. I thanked him but explained that my youngest child had just been born and was homeschooling my kids. What I didn’t tell Art that day was that sadly, this marriage was not going well. As it happened, 18 or so months later the divorce was in process and I gave Art a call to see if he was still in need of a relief barber. He was, so in September 2003 started working for Art one day a week, and every six months I’d work an additional day per week and he’d get another day off until I was full time. Art retired in September of 2005, at which time he sold me the business.
In 2019 the opportunity presented to purchase the unique property on E Division Street, which had an outbuilding where I envisioned my new barbershop – and the benefit and blessing of working from home. In early 2020 the renovation began, and I opened my new shop on May 13, 2020.
Everyone has a story, and this is a snapshot of my working life. I’m thankful that God has always taken care of me, helped me to learn my skill, and provided hair to cut! I appreciate my long-time, loyal customers, and would count it a privilege to serve you as well.