PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Dwight’s Barbershop experience brings to mind the classic Americana barbershop: the barber pole, an array of humorous and personal pictures lining the wall and a barber ready to talk about anything you want.
Barber Dwight Helstrom has seen countless faces in his time cutting hair in Presque Isle for more than 50 years. But, on a recent Saturday morning, Dwight’s Barbershop on Main Street saw a unique set of faces come in through his door: four generations of a Mapleton family.
Eighty-year-old Victor Winslow, his 53-year-old son Todd, 30-year-old grandson Ryan and 1-year-old great-grandson Victor all took turns in the barber’s chair at Dwight’s. Helstrom made quick work of them. Their hair covered the floor as he shaved four short cuts.
Dwight Helstrom, left, smiles as he buzzes the hair of Ryan Winslow, right, at Dwight’s Barbershop in Presque Isle on Saturday. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
Everyone except the younger Victor had a long history of going to Dwight’s. And though Ryan now lives in Winterport with his wife Megan, they were keeping their 1-year-old true to his roots by getting his first professional haircut right there in Presque Isle.
For Todd Winslow, who was important in organizing the get-together, haircuts are about far more than just a new look.
“It’s as much a social event as it is about getting your haircut,” Todd Winslow said. “It’s about the atmosphere, coming in and getting to see a few of your neighbors.”
As each older Winslow sat down for a trim, they were kept company by the sociable Helstrom. They joked, talked about each other’s families and chatted about local news between cuts and buzzes.
Helstrom said he cuts the hair of all kinds of people from Presque Isle and surrounding communities. He has even cut the hair of former Maine Gov. John Baldacci.
But to Helstrom, everybody’s the same when they stroll past the barber pole. Even the governor didn’t get any special treatment.
Todd Winslow, left, barber Dwight Helstrom, second from left, one year old Victor Winslow, center, Ryan Winslow, second from right, and the elder Victor Winslow, right, pose after the four generations of Winslows got their hair cut on Saturday at Dwight’s Barbershop in Presque Isle. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
“He had to wait his turn just like everyone else,” Helstrom said. “He said to me, ‘I might be the boss of this state, but you can tell that you’re the boss of this barbershop.’”
Helstrom, who described himself as a “perfectionist,” appeared very precise as he performed each of the four haircuts. Though he said far fewer people were becoming barbers in Maine than when he began in the 1960s, he said his chosen profession has brought him nothing but joy.
He has worked at his shop nearly 54 of his 72 years. But, as long as he continues to get devoted customers like the Winslows, he isn’t planning on hanging up the scissors anytime soon.
“About every morning, I get here about quarter after seven,” Helstrom said. “Very seldom, there ain’t one or two people waiting for me.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated Todd Winslow lived in Winterport. It is Ryan Winslow.
