The (Hi)Story Behind Our Name
We often get asked about our name! Eye care and eyeglasses may not be the first things that pop into your head when you read “Barber Town”, but it has local and historical significance.
The Barber dam, mill, power plant, and company town were built by the Barber Lumber Company in the early 1900s, to process timber harvested north of Boise. At one time, the tree-lined streets of the bustling mill town housed 105 families, and included a hotel, general store and an eight grade public school. The mill was in operation until the Great Depression forced its closure and dismantling in 1934. Many of the original homes were relocated to Boise. Today only the powerhouse and dam remain. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.