by Natasha Grau, Curator of Collections

Need a haircut, a shave, and a hot, sudsy bath? The Arhelger Bathhouse, located on the Pioneer Museum grounds, once sat behind the Arhelger Barbershop on East Main Street. Between 1910 and 1930, Alexander (Alex) Arhelger operated the shop, serving travelers and locals alike.

The bathhouse has served for years as an exhibit room, highlighting a treasured tool collection, and miniature train exhibit. Once in a while a bathhouse needs some grooming itself. Updates are currently being made to the interior to showcase the house as both bathhouse and barbershop in one. This reinterpretation will give visitors to the museum an idea of what furnishings and paraphernalia would have been found in each, during the early 1900s.

How much do you suppose a haircut and a shave cost in 1920? Around 25 cents!
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Our refurbished “Theo A. Koch” barber chairs came out of the “Loth & Land Barber Shop,” oncelocated at 111 E. Main Street in the Maier Building. Mr. Seekatz first openedthe barber shop in 1912. In 1927 or 1928 the shop was named “Loth and LandBarber Shop,” after Adolph Loth and Erwin Land. Raymond Wilke bought Land’sinterest in the shop. Wilke barbered here for 30 years, 1966–1996. Raymond’swife, Mable Wilke, and their daughter, Raynell Wilke, kindly donated the chairsfor the Arhelger Bathhouse/ Barbershop exhibit.


Alexander “Alex” Arhelger’s barbershop, located in the 100 block of East Main Street, 1910-1930

The Arhelger bathhouse, interpreted as bothbathhouse and barbershop, located at the Pioneer Museum

Our sincerest thanks to the following for donating the wonderful materials exhibited in the Arhelger Bathhouse/ Barbershop:

Bill and Vicki Beasley

Richard Bristol

Liz Brookshire

Jeneva Bryans

Buddy and Gladys Frels

Family of Kurt Keidel

Phyllis Ann Keidel-Burkett

Beatrice Klein

Jim Knutson

Jimmie and Linda Langerhans

David and Dee Lawford

Dr. Marie Marschall-Fuller

Glen Treibs

Brent Waldoch

Raymond and Mable Wilke