Making Money = Paper Route

Jobs were more available to teenagers when I was a teen.. The federal government was less intrusive and minimum wage was not an issue.

In 1958 I decided to build a hut in the back yard. There was some scrap lumber in the shed on the back of our property and I figured (actually I did not figure anything) it would be great for building a hut. I used four ten foot long 4X4’s to frame the bottom of the hut. I put these on some bricks to keep them off the ground. I don’t think I even leveled them.

At this point I needed some 2X4’s for studs and the scrap lumber pile was woefully short of 2X4’s.

So I asked my dad to buy me some at the lumber store. His comment was something to the effect that If I wanted come 2X4’s, I could buy them myself. But, Dad, I don’t have any money. Well, get a job.

Not bad advice, but that meant I had to find a job.

Grocery stores would not hire 11 year olds.