
You can solve all the worlds problems and come out looking spiffy when you visit John Morrison at his little Cochranton Barber shop. "One thing about a barber shop, you have lots of laughs," Morrison said.
The conversations he has had over the years range from serious topics like suicide and COVID to sports and family. And thousands of jokes.
Since 1961 he has been cutting the hair of ordinary folk, preachers with shiny black shoes, kids and even a General. He recalls a time three preachers showed up at once. "None of the preachers knew the others were preachers," Morrison said with his patented laugh that almost sounds like it is on constant loop because of how frequently he breaks into them. He listens to people vent as he lends a sympathetic ear and even shares in snacks from nearby restaurants folks brought.
And he has made them feel comfortable, like family.
The conversations he has had over the years range from serious topics like suicide and COVID to sports and family. And thousands of jokes.
Since 1961 he has been cutting the hair of ordinary folk, preachers with shiny black shoes, kids and even a General. He recalls a time three preachers showed up at once. "None of the preachers knew the others were preachers," Morrison said with his patented laugh that almost sounds like it is on constant loop because of how frequently he breaks into them. He listens to people vent as he lends a sympathetic ear and even shares in snacks from nearby restaurants folks brought.
And he has made them feel comfortable, like family.

Family is a big part of his love of life. He and his wife Lois are staples in the downtown. They love to hear what everyone's kids are doing and are quick with the bragging about their own. "You gotta have your family around you," he said, "that's what it's all about."
Lois tries to keep his chair filled with disheveled customers wishing to no longer be disheveled. She often sits out in the waiting room to also lend an ear and keep an eye out the window on North Franklin Street. She makes sure her husband doesn't miss things since his hearing ain't what it used to be and corrects mistakes in stories he tells. She answers the phone and keeps the schedule..
His family was planning a 60 year celebration for the barbershop this month, but thought of just having people come in this week during the Cochranton Fair to say hello and wish him well..
Lois tries to keep his chair filled with disheveled customers wishing to no longer be disheveled. She often sits out in the waiting room to also lend an ear and keep an eye out the window on North Franklin Street. She makes sure her husband doesn't miss things since his hearing ain't what it used to be and corrects mistakes in stories he tells. She answers the phone and keeps the schedule..
His family was planning a 60 year celebration for the barbershop this month, but thought of just having people come in this week during the Cochranton Fair to say hello and wish him well..
This wizard of the comb and clipper isn't just some guy off the street who decided one day to cut hair. Well he sorta was, but then he got some extensive training and was licensed. At one point he had a salon where he specialized in women's do's.
In the old days he'd have a ping-pong table in the back where folks would come hang out even if they didn't need a trim. Area merchants would gather and hold tournaments.
He's a Vietnam War Era veteran who worked supplies in Germany. Strangely they wouldn't let him cut hair in the army. He was a self proclaimed shy kid, though that last part almost sounds like one of the embellished stories told in his shop over the years.
"He's come out of his shell as you can see," Lois piped up from the waiting area.
A few years back he had major heart surgery, but was back behind the scissors in a little more than a month.
In the old days he'd have a ping-pong table in the back where folks would come hang out even if they didn't need a trim. Area merchants would gather and hold tournaments.
He's a Vietnam War Era veteran who worked supplies in Germany. Strangely they wouldn't let him cut hair in the army. He was a self proclaimed shy kid, though that last part almost sounds like one of the embellished stories told in his shop over the years.
"He's come out of his shell as you can see," Lois piped up from the waiting area.
A few years back he had major heart surgery, but was back behind the scissors in a little more than a month.
"I don't know anyone who enjoys a job as much as I do," he said as he found himself in at least sixth belly clutching laugh within an hour.
"I never got rich," he said but he speaks of his three children, five grand-children and two great-grandchildren as if they are made of gold and everything he's ever wanted in life. He bought and sold properties in the past to make a living, but mostly he has just worked the backs of peoples heads, sideburns and has trimmed countles eyebrows and ears for those needing.
He is very well known around the little hamlet of Cochranton and is often stopped in the market for conversation.
Several years back he sold his salon to just keep his old school barbershop. "I like to talk about things men like to talk about," he said, but admits, as a result, he has seen a few more incision scars his patrons decided to show than he has cared to see.
He does talk about retirement from time to to time, but hasn't hung up his clippers yet..
"It's all talk," Lois said. "This is his happy place,"
He is very well known around the little hamlet of Cochranton and is often stopped in the market for conversation.
Several years back he sold his salon to just keep his old school barbershop. "I like to talk about things men like to talk about," he said, but admits, as a result, he has seen a few more incision scars his patrons decided to show than he has cared to see.
He does talk about retirement from time to to time, but hasn't hung up his clippers yet..
"It's all talk," Lois said. "This is his happy place,"