By By ANDY HAMILTON / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Joseph Scott Salon was Ray Cowan's masterpiece. His niece Jessica Fredricks knew that and was her reason for re-opening the shop at 224 Front St. in downtown Niles.
Cowan died around a month ago from a rare terminal brain disease. But before he passed, he told friends and family his wish was for Fredricks to take over the salon.
Making the Joseph Scott Salon available for all of Cowan's old customers is now Fredrick's goal. She has started calling the former clients, many of which Fredricks said did not know Cowan had died.
Physically, Cowan is no longer styling hair. But, Fredricks said the color, decoration and feeling of the salon is a constant reminder of her late uncle. The walls and pressed tin ceilings are painted in red, purple orange and turquois and the abstractly shaped mirrors match the unique paintings on the wall.
Also lining the shelves are photos of Cowan's partner Bret Maccani and the couple's adopted daughter, Sophie, who is also one of the main reasons for keeping the salon up and running.
Fredricks said no one could treat a customer like Cowan.
The Galien resident does not have any training in hair styling and she said she will not start anytime soon. Her role at Joseph Scott Salon will be to run the place while working her full time job in Buchanan. To do so, Fredricks said she has found three other stylists to handle the work.
Cindy Villwock has been a hair stylist in Niles for 24 years and will continue her work with Fredricks. Carre Aalfs of Buchanan worked with Cowan for around two years and will re-join the Joseph Scott Salon.
The third stylist, Shannon Frame of Buchanan, is a recent beauty school graduate and will work at the salon part time.
Fredricks said the ladies will work without a receptionist and be responsible for scheduling their own appointments with clients and welcoming any walk-ins that show up. Joseph Scott will also provide all the same services that were offered under Cowan.
Fredricks said her intention is to leave Joseph Scott Salon as it was.
It will at least fulfill one wish of her uncle Ray.