A barbershop isn't simply a place to get a hair cut.

Most men will admit a trip to the barber is a social visit, as well.That's because a man develops a lasting friendship with his barber.The shop is a place of interaction and public discourse. It's a center of news, sports and weather.So it's always an event when a barber leaves.On Thursday, tonsorial artist Albin Barnisky, 75, called it quits at his Tamaqua shop after a 51-year career.Many stopped in on his final day, including customers Cody Houser and Gary Wetterau of Tamaqua.However, Barnisky didn't publicly announce his plans and so the men didn't realize the significance of the day.For Wetterau and Houser, who needed a trim at just the right time, it was a touch of serendipity.It was especially meaningful for Wetterau to sit in the barber chair on Barnisky's final day."This is the second time for me for this to happen," Wetterau said."I was the final haircut for my grandfather, Gus Wetterau, a barber on Railroad Street. I was 7 years old," he said, recalling that special day in 1955.As for Barnisky, his career began in the early 1960s."I went into Lehigh Barber College in 1961 after the Air Force," he said, recalling the school's ties to the Tamaqua-Panther Valley area."It was run by Nick Demyanovich and Louis Daniels."Afterward, Barnisky served a nine-month apprenticeship in Coaldale with barber John Brunda.In 1964, Barnisky set up shop on the 200 block of West Broad Street in a residential/commercial building owned by Carl Krause.Eight years later, it was time for a career shift.Barnisky left the barber business to operate an eatery.He bought the landmark White Diner along the South Tamaqua highway and served customers from 1972 to 1986.He was drawn back to the barber business."After I sold the diner, I went to Florida at the Bonita Springs Barber Shop for 2 1/2 years."But Barnisky was drawn back to his hometown. He returned to West Broad Street, set up shop, and cut hair for the next 25 years.In his decades with scissors and trimmer, Barnisky saw hairstyle trends meander their way from the original crew, brush and burr cuts to mullets, bowl cuts and design cutting that included stencil-shaving of silhouettes such as lightning bolts, bats and cocktail glasses.Wetterau, too, reflected on changing styles."This was one of few places you could come for a flat-top," Wetterau said.Along the way, Barnisky, of Mahoning Valley, introduced son Matt to the trade. Both staffed the two-station shop at 233 W. Broad St.In fact, with Barnisky's retirement, Matt is now the only barber left in town.At one time, Tamaqua had an almost-limitless supply of barbers: Harry Lewis and brother Clem, Russ Ackerman, Jim Hulsman, Stan Rubeshank, Nobel Hirsch, Johnny Bergalis, Jim Wasson, Joe Verano, Don Hadesty, Al Gould, Frank Myers, Cy Haldeman, and the list goes on.Barnisky also saw the price of haircuts go from $1.25 to about $8 today."I remember the first price hike in the 1960s when the Panther Valley Barbers' Association went from $1.25 to $1.50," said BarniskyToday there are many stylists, but the old-fashioned men's barbershop is a fading icon of Americana.So much has changed over the years, said Barnisky.The time has come for a new phase in Barnisky's life.Retirement will allow for fishing, hunting, sports interests and spending more time with his wife, the former Linda Ormsby.And to celebrate the special day, the shop offered doughnuts for those stopping by.Asked about one top event that most highlights Barnisky's career, he says it's right now."The best is today," he said, "because I'm retiring."