Friends, family, and community icons gathered at Old City Hall in the Denham Springs antique district on June 30 to commemorate the donation of a grandfather clock built for Mr. Herbert Hal Rasberry.
The clock, donated to the city of Denham Springs by Hal's family, was built in 1977 by W.W. Knight, a custom clockmaker and Denham Springs resident, for Hal and his wife, Lanell.
Mr. Hal, who passed away peacefully on June 15, 2024, was a barber for 54 years at Hal's Hair Reflections. According to his obituary, customers came from near and far to listen to his stories and shoot the bull as much as to get their hair cut.
"When Hal started cutting your hair, you [only] went to Hal until you didn't have any more hair," Mayor Gerard Landry said in his opening address, causing quite a few chuckles around the room.
Alongside the clock, Hal's family also donated the scissors Hal used to style his signature Roffler cut for more than 50 years.
"If you didn't stop by Mr. Hal Rasberry's chair before running for office, were you even really campaigning?" a post from the City of Denham Springs Facebook account asked. "For 54 years, Hal's Hair Reflections was the unofficial City Hall of Denham Springs. It was where you went for a master-level Roffler cut, but you stayed for the tall tales, the fishing advice, and the kind of community spirit you just can't manufacture."
Hal's son and daughter, Jason Rasberry and Lisa Peters, as well as Hal's sister, Reba Lockhart, were present to accept a Certificate of Dedication from Mayor Landry, marking the occasion and thanking them for entrusting these pieces of their family history to the city's safekeeping.
"It's all about community," Jason Rasberry said. "What's here today is the Denham Springs pride and community, and that's what my dad represented."
"Mr. Hal was more than just our local barber," Mayor Landry noted. "He was an icon, a confidant, and a cornerstone of Denham Springs."
"We honor him today as a legendary gentleman and a true community staple," Mayor Landry continued. "A legacy of service measured in time."
At the ceremony, family and friends each shared stories from their time with Hal. As these good times were remembered, it didn't take long for laughter to catch, and soon the entire room was filled with the kind of mirth that only comes from recalling fond memories spent in good company.
Stories ranged from daring escapades to sweet moments, with a few silly scenes mixed in, and each person noted how Mr. Hal always left them with a good story, if not an even better haircut.
A bag of soft peppermint candies was also brought out for the crowd, mirroring the jar of the same candies that always sat proudly on Mr. Hal's desk, free for anyone to enjoy after a haircut.
"Mr. Hal might not be in his chair anymore, but he is now a permanent part of the history preserved at Old City Hall," the Denham Springs Facebook post continued.
Community members are invited to visit Old City Hall to see the clock and the other historical donations on display.
