The City Police Station Turns Into an Impromptu Barbershop
Twenty-six aspiring barbers descended upon police headquarters for a rigorous examination and practical test of their skills.
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The only thing the squad room at police headquarters lacked this morning to make it a complete barber shop was the striped pole out in front. The room was full of barber chairs, razors, tonsorial artists and applicants for a free shave. The occasion was the examination by the board of barber examiners of applicants for barbers' licenses. There were 26 applicants and each one was put through a rigid practical and theoretical test. Applicants must pass with an average of at least 70 per cent to get a certificate.
“The only thing the squad room at police headquarters lacked this morning to make it a complete barber shop was the striped pole out in front.”
Professional licensing examinations are still a pillar of civic governance, though we have moved from holding testing days in police squad rooms to dedicated testing centers. The scene captures an era when public spaces were more multi-functional and civic bureaucratic requirements were starkly integrated into the daily life of police departments.
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