It's a family thing.                                        Ed Rappold founded the barber shop way back in 1906. Through the century, his son, Donald Rappold, a former Hurricane Mayor, and Donald's brother, Pete, have cut the hair of most of the men in town.

Today, Stephen Rappold, and his son, Rod, do the clipping, and exchange one-liners with the customers. Steve started in June of 1966, and Rod started 15 years ago.

Rappold's has its roots on Main street, in the 2700 block, at the former site of the Putnam Theater. Midland Trail restaurant was in the front, Rappold's Barber Shop was in the back. Today the shop is located across the street from Putnam County Bank at 153 Dudding Avenue.

Steve says Rappold's is the third oldest business in Hurricane, taking bronze to the oldest, The Hurricane Breeze, and the second oldest, Putnam County Bank.

"And we don’t have any assets in either one of those places," quips Steve.

While many men couldn't work with their fathers or sons, the Rappold's wouldn't have it any other way. "I like it," says Steve. "It’s interesting," says Rod. "I like it because I get to work with my father."

Steve has seen a lot of changes in Hurricane over the past decades, "Some of them good, some of them bad… People moving in, good. Wal-mart Bad. That Wal-mart’s going to take a lot of traffic away from this area. If you don’t have traffic, you don’t have a chance of making money."

While Rappold's still has the old-time feel of a family barber shop, Rod has brought some modern amenities. Customers have a stereo system to listen to when they aren't joking around, and Wi-Fi for customers with notebook computers. What you won't find at Rappold's is a telephone. "My dad would kill me," says Rod.

Loyal customers say they will continue to come to Rappold's for the perfect cut.

"This is the place for a haircut in Hurricane," says  Brett Ruggier, of Teays Valley. "There’s no one else…" "I used to cut his hair when he was in a booster chair," says Steve, jokingly. “Not quite that young," fires back Brett. "We only expect the best, and Rappold’s delivers… except for the fourth generation."

Yes, the jokes fly around the small shop, part of the small-town atmosphere that the customers, and the Rappold's love about the family business. 

"Steve and I grew up together, practically, says Les Reynolds, of Culloden, who works at Putnam County Bank across the street. "It’s been forever. I’m glad there’s still family businesses around."

"This is where I got my first haircut, when I was a kid," remembers Chris Hogsten, now 41, of Hurricane. "I still have the ‘Tom Thumb booster chair.’"

"We don’t have one as wild as Chris was," says Steve. "I was back then," Chris admits. "I come from a big family. Rappold’s has been here forever. You can't go to a beauty shop and get a "high and tight." They just don’t know who to do it."

By now you may have noticed that every customer we interviewed is a man. That's because Rappold's is one of the few places where men feel comfortable.

"It’s a man’s world at the shop," says Rod. "It used to be very few women came in. Now when they come in, it gets dead silent." "All the war stories stop," says Chris. "It’s politics and things you need to catch up on."

"Who caught the biggest deer, who has the best coon dog," adds Rod. 

Rappold's Barber Shop is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:30 pm and Saturday's, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm.