NORTH HAVERHILL — Marshall Meade knew exactly what he wanted to do when he retired: become a barber for seniors.
Last May, Meade found the perfect fit at Horse Meadow Senior Center in North Haverhill, where he sets up shop from 1-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Monday each month, providing $10 haircuts to anyone who needs them.
He was inspired, in part, by his mother who spent 11 years in a nursing home.
“As I visited her, I became more and more comfortable in that environment,” said Meade, who spent 35 years as a public school music teacher in Connecticut before retiring and moving to North Haverhill in 2017. “I went to barber school with the specific intent to be a barber for senior citizens.”
“As soon as I could, I enrolled in barber training,” he said.
He spent seven months learning his skills at Empire Beauty’s School’s barbering program in Hooksett, N.H., though he said he’d cut his own hair for decades before that.
“After I went to barbering school, I found out how wrong I’d been doing it all those years,” he said.
Prior to his first customer last Monday, Meade, 65, worked diligently unpacking his cases, pulling from them a variety of combs, razors, brushes and a jar filled with sterilizing solution, among other supplies.
“It’s like a real barbershop,” Meade said. “I’m portable.”
After moving to North Haverhill, Meade got involved at the senior center right away, first by eating lunch there.
“I’d been in town for less than a week and I signed myself up to deliver Meals on Wheels,” he said. “My original plan of cutting hair for senior citizens fell into my lap.”
A violinist, he also performs regularly at Horse Meadow. In addition to delivering meals, Meade will give haircuts to those who request them.
“I pretty much keep my barbering stuff in my car,” he said.
Meade’s first customer of the day was Bryan Huntoon, of Woodsville, who requested a flat-top haircut. Meade draped a smock over Huntoon, 52, and started making conversation, starting with the rainy weather. The haircut took a little over half an hour, and Meade stopped periodically to examine his work.
Meade has three or four customers a week on a typical afternoon at Horse Meadow. People are asked to sign up in advance, although drop-ins are also welcome if time permits.
Camille Roy, of North Haverhill, had a straightforward answer when asked why he comes to Meade for a haircut.
“My hair is shorter,” said Roy, 82, who volunteers as a Meals on Wheels driver along with Meade.
Meade gave Roy “a man’s regular,” a basic haircut.
“It’s a form of giving back,” Meade said. “I’m doing what I planned for a long time.”
Editor’s note: For more information or to sign up for a haircut, call Horse Meadow Senior Center at 603-787-2539. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
