Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Winsted barber was ‘a cut above’



WINSTED, MN – Good conversation and a good haircut were easy to get in Winsted for more than six decades from barber Cy Seymour, 92, who recently passed away. For his obituary, click here.

Seymour, an avid hunter and outdoorsman, as well as a notable baseball player in his day, passed away April 30.

However, pleasant memories live on for the untold number of patrons who used to frequent his shop located on First St. N. in downtown Winsted.

Gary Seymour, one of his two sons, said that his dad’s life could be summed up in three words: “a cut above,” referring to his good character and his barbershop profession.

Cy cut hair for 68 years in Winsted, beginning in 1941, Gary said.

Upon Cy’s 50th anniversary in 1999, he was honored with a write-up in the column of Outdoors writer (and current publisher) Chris Schultz, Gary noted.

The 1999 column gave surprising insight into the experience of a barbershop visit; so much so that Cy didn’t feel the need to be written about further, and declined later attempts by the newspaper to profile him.

“If Cy Seymour’s barber shop in downtown Winsted was ever included in one of the credit card commercials we see on TV today, the commercial would say: “Hair cut just the way you like it, $6; atmosphere and conversation, priceless.”

Schultz said that he looked forward to a buzz, flat-top “or even a heinie. A heinie is what we called a real short haircut when I was a kid.

“But Cy is well aware that my wife just wouldn’t go for it, so I usually walk out with just a little bit more than a trim and all kinds of stuff on hunting, fishing and baseball.”

Seymour was a master of “guy talk,” Schultz recounted, saying that anybody who wanted to hear about good pheasant hunting in Nebraska and South Dakota, or snow goose hunting in Canada, could get the low-down on this in the space of a 20-minute haircut.

“By the time my hair was in good shape again, we had talked about dogs, fishing, the next hunting season, strategic placement of snow goose decoys, high school and town baseball and what local young talent was coming up through the ranks,” Schultz wrote.

The article was framed and adorned the wall of Cy’s shop for many years, as did old and current outdoor magazines, framed prints and, of course, two old-fashioned barbershop chairs.

Cutting hair wasn’t his only skill, since his prowess for amateur baseball is well known.

Cy was a member of the 1948 AAA Minnesota State Baseball championship team, which was managed by his father, “Bub.”

In 2003, writer Joe Kieser recounted the successful season of 1948 Winsted baseball, describing Seymour as one of its stars that year.

Kieser recounted state amateur tournament action, when Winsted won the first game of the tournament by the score of 8-3 over Worthington.

“There were many individual stars, but the trophy was presented to Seymour, Herman Peschken, and the great team effort,” Kieser wrote.

“After the season, there was a letter from Congress, dinner invitations, and congratulations from the local community.

“The chicken dinner given by the Winsted Civic & Commerce was well attended. The tables in the Holy Trinity basement were arranged in the shape of a ball diamond,” Kieser remembered.

Kieser added “(Bub) Seymour (Cy’s father) had molded this team into one of the best ever from this area.”

Seymour is also remembered for his long-lasting commitment to his wife, Elizabeth.

The two were married Sept. 15, 1939, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted by Father Wey.

They had just celebrated 70 years of marriage this past September. Elizabeth passed away last December on Christmas Day.

Now, Cy has followed her by passing on, but will be remembered for so many things.

He was a long-time member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Winsted, the Winsted Chamber of Commerce, Catholic Order of Foresters, Ducks Unlimited, and the Minnesota Barber Association.

In the end, Cy Seymour will be remembered for all of these things and much more.

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