Houses and Streets

AO109
Barber shop (Pilota Street)

Here was the barber shop of “Paco the Barber”. Francisco Cotolí Gil’s barbershop was installed in the 1910s, and there was the town’s first radio, a Philips; so it served as a meeting place for the youth to listen to football matches on the radio. Helped by his son since the 30s, Francisco Cotolí Compañ. He continued the family tradition in this house until 1943, after settling in Mestre Serrano Street. He will return in 1947 until 1983. In 1946-47 the doctor Cesareo Diosdado moved in, being his home and place of consultation.

Both father and son were barbers in the broadest sense of the term, that is, they not only cut hair, but also pulled teeth.

In this house, during the 1930s and until 1943, there was also a women’s hairdresser, run by Pilar Cotolí Compañ. But she combed and Francisco cut, being therefore the first male hairdresser in Algímia who was in charge of cutting women’s hair.

Currently, its function has not changed. The place is now runs by Yvette Sancarlos Compañ hairdresser since 1998.

Inside it had a ceramic panel, given to the town by the current owner, made by the chemist of the ceramic industry of Algímia “El Pelícano “, Francisco Botella, which has a curious history. In 1910 he graduated from the Toledo Infantry Academy with the rank of second lieutenant, with Francisco Franco Bahamonde. He said the following: “Franco and me we study together, and him now he is the “Caudillo” (Leader) of Spain and I am the chemist of El Pelícano ”.