Stylist marks diamond anniversary of her business

October 2 was just going to be another Thursday of styling flowers and styling hair for Silvia Bowman-Hamilton, and she might have let her 60th anniversary of entrepreneurship go unnoticed.

However, her employees, longtime customers, friends and the Cambridge City Area Chamber of Commerce were not going to let that happen.

Although Silvia’s Magic Mirror began first, she’s also known for 43 years of helping spread joy and comfort through her Roses & Rainbows Flower and Gift Shop.

Both businesses now share the same building at 118 W. Main St. in downtown Cambridge City, with the salon just adjacent to the flower shop’s customer area, near the floral cooler.

Her fans organized a surprise six-hour open house, complete with an award, plentiful snack table, cake with a “60” topper, a guestbook, and a printed booklet of memories and business milestones, such as a $10 special on permanents that were normally $15 for her hair clients.

Bowman-Hamilton said she was stunned by the unexpected, “way overboard” outpouring of support.

“I did not have any — not one — inkling,” she said. “I’m still rattled and I have been all day.”

“I’ve cried a lot, but they’re happy tears, not sad.”

Kayla Oberhelman, who’s worked at Roses & Rainbows for about three years, eagerly awaited the opportunity to recognize Bowman-Hamilton.

“She’s the best boss I’ve ever had and genuinely the nicest person,” Oberhelman said.

Bowman-Hamilton said seeing so many friends stop by throughout the day “validates that I’ve done something right for some people.”

She was especially pleased to see her salon filled with customers who came to chat and reminisce, with every chair occupied for about two hours.

Although Cambridge City has another florist a few blocks away, she’s on good terms with Becker’s Florist & Greenhouse staff.

In trying to find a keepsake representing her longevity in business, they decorated a wooden clog and delivered it for her party. She returns the good humor, keeping a stash of Snickers candies in a drawer just for Becker’s owner Bruce Davis when he stops by.

She’s made many friends and connections over the years through actively volunteering for the chamber. She jumps in wherever needed, such as organizing Canal Days parade participants.

Tamra Davis, chamber president, called Bowman-Hamilton a “one-of-a-kind hidden gem” who takes pride in her “thankless” volunteering.

“If you’ve ever had a conversation with Silvia, then you know she is a fountain of knowledge in our community,” Davis said. “She is irreplaceable, and I tell her all the time, ‘When I grow up, I want to be just like her.’ She puts so much love into everything she does. We are truly lucky to have her.”

Making friends and gathering information through her two businesses has come naturally for Bowman-Hamilton.

After receiving friendly advice to write a book about her long career, Bowman-Hamilton laughed, saying she’d have to write it as fiction because no one would believe it.

Bowman-Hamilton said she has no plans to retire, even as she approaches her 80th birthday in early February.

Longtime customer Mary Jo Close said Bowman-Hamilton cares for salon and flower customers, and she’ll do “anything that can be done for anybody.”

Richai Morgan also stopped by the open house to give Bowman-Hamilton a hug and well-wishes.

“You run circles around me,” Morgan told Bowman-Hamilton.

Morgan recalls her mother, Donna Struewing, going to Bowman-Hamilton’s salon inside her home early in her career.

Recently, Bowman-Hamilton supplied flowers for Morgan’s grandchildren, serving their family’s fourth generation.

“She’s a blessing to our community and a friend to our family,” Morgan said.

Keith Gumm of Milton happened upon the open house when he stopped by to pick up flowers for his wife. He wanted to thank her for supporting him as he switches jobs.

“You can come in here and tell her what you’re wanting, and she always does a good job,” Gumm said. “My mom always came here, and I don’t think I will go anywhere else.”