Barber Gene Bridge plans to end 58-year Garfield stint

Garfield barber Gene Bridge charged four bits for a haircut when he began cutting hair in 1952.

Fifty-eight years later and three weeks away from retirement, Bridge, now 84, now just takes donations for a haircut, which range from $7 to $10.

“Still going to retire next month?” asked customer Bob Felgenhauer of Oakesdale as he settled into the barber chair last Thursday.

“Yeah, I think so,” Bridge said.

“About time isn’t it? You’re only 85 aren’t you?”

“84! You’re trying to jack me up a year,” Bridge said with a laugh.

For the past 58 years, Bridge has been shaving heads and swapping hot small-...