God must smile upon the six people who reportedly attended the 1954 funeral of Abraham Skidmore, who in life was a beacon of hope and positivity across six very challenging decades in the Town of Mattapoisett.
It is long overdue that Skidmore, the son of slaves who, though born (1878) and reared in North Carolina, made his life in Mattapoisett, be recognized posthumously with the Keel Award.
Skidmore’s story tells itself, but it was most recently and beautifully chronicled by Jessica DeCicco-Carey of the citizen’s group Tri Town Against Racism and published at mattapoisettmuseum.org.
As told by DeCicco-Carey, the story of “Skid” is an amazing tale of perseverance against long odds, love for an adopted community that he would express in both small personal ways and in large demonstrations of leadership, and his enduring character.
Racial segregation was a good day in the late 19th century, and a bad day was violence, even lynchings. Amidst that post-slavery turmoil, Skidmore discovered an opportunity to move his life to the north. His trek took him to New Jersey, then to New Bedford, where he would find his future in a newspaper advertisement about a barber shop for sale in Mattapoisett.
In 1899, Skidmore was but 21 years of age when he took a train into Mattapoisett, the requisite training and licensing in hand for his budding career.
Before operating at his legacy location on Church Street, Skidmore would begin cutting hair in Purrington Hall, where Shipyard Park now stands. There were two brief stopovers between the locations, but Skidmore was Mattapoisett’s signature and only barber for 55 years. He and his wife Anna lived on Pine Island Road.
Famous for his affordability, Skidmore charged 15 cents for a haircut and a dime for a shave. “Most barbers charge a dollar, but I could never do that,” he was quoted to say.
Building a business was a steadfast and modest endeavor, and Skidmore the barber endeared himself to the town. His personality came out, though, in the celebrations he arranged in the village streets, especially as a drummer providing the beat for marching parades.
According to DeCicco-Carey’s article, Skidmore organized the Mattapoisett Cornet Band before World War I, and he organized The Hobo Band before World War II.
During World War II, putting together an assembly of musicians was difficult, but that didn’t stop Skidmore from improvising and wearing a hat with an American Flag attached as he marched through the town drumming.
On one occasion, he raised funds for a poor widow with no insurance and oftentimes drummed just to entertain children in the town. On one October 31, he was in costume and followed by 125 children participating in the first Mattapoisett Halloween Parade. Skidmore’s fund-raising efforts helped the town band, the American Legion and a kids’ baseball team.
Skidmore didn’t have children, but the children of Mattapoisett were near and dear to him, whether they were in his barber shop taking shelter from weather or just reading a magazine while awaiting a delivery of newspapers for their routes.
At 75, Skidmore was widowed but still working the crowds, providing an atmosphere of positivity and celebration whenever he could. When Skidmore passed away at age 76, his barber friend Albert Morgado took over the leading drummer’s role in the parade newly sponsored by the Lions Club.
Dick Morgado, Albert’s son, made sure to preserve Skidmore’s barber pole at the Mattapoisett Museum. His statement reads: “My Father, cut hair for 30 years in the small shop on Church Street. This barber pole had belonged to Abraham Skidmore, who cut hair in the shop before my dad. When my dad sold the shop to Jodi Bauer, he kept the pole. I am pleased now to give it to the museum for all to see.”
What Skidmore started, the Town of Mattapoisett has felt compelled to continue.
Mattapoisett Keel Award: Abraham Skidmore
By Mick Colageo