A seven-year wait paid off

A newspaper carrier’s job was highly sought during the great depression. I know first hand, since I was there. I signed up for a Vindicator route in 1933 at age nine. After seven years my prayers were finally answered, in 1940 at age 16, I inherited my first cousin’s Ralph LaCivita’s Route 302, on the good old east side.

I delivered the paper after school, except for Sunday, which was delivered before sunrise. The Saturday paper was the lightest and Sunday the heaviest. A carrier had to meet their weekly obligation, whether a customer paid the bill or not. Some of my customers paid bi-weekly, but I always paid my bill on time. Tips were non-existent.

My route was mainly on Oak Street, from the intersection of Himrod Avenue and Oak Street west to Loveless Avenue. For the past 22 years, I have traveled that route to New Wilmington, Pa. hundreds of times to photograph my Amish country farmer friends. Many of the homes and businesses are gone.

Good old days

Every time I make that trip, I am reminded of the good old days. Bill and Jim Dellick were my dependable helpers.

Recently, I saw a lady at a coin dealer with many silver quarters (90 percent silver content) from the early 40’s. I was unable to save a single quarter, because I had to pay my bill with the coins. The daily paper was 3 cents, while Sunday was a dime. A weekly only customer paid me 18 cents, while a weekly and Sunday customer gave me 28 cents. I always dealt with small change. Every penny was important.

I gave up my route in June 1942, when I graduated from East High School. I got a job at Truscon Steel Mfg. in war production.

In May 1943, I was inducted into the U.S. Navy. The 1944 silver quarter played an important part in my life once again. I made silver wedding band type rings by hand from those quarters and they took a high shine. I would send the rings to my cousin Dottie who worked at the GF in war production. She received many requests and we gave them away free.

I made the rings in the bowels of the U.S.S. LST 582, pounding on the edge of the quarter with a large tablespoon. The pounding noise was drowned out by the roar of our huge diesel engines, where I worked, as a motor machinist’s mate second class.

Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree who has been inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.