Copyright © All rights reserved. Made by Dr. Joseph P. Kawoski.
Boys were very young when they started out to find any kind of work to help out their family. Many of the stores downtown hired these boys to deliver packages. Some boys shoveled snow and at that time there was much competition, so they had to start out early to make a few cents. In the summer it was cutting grass or pulling weeds. As the boys got older and out of school, some would hitch hike or travel by rail in the trains’ boxcars from city to city, town to town searching for any kind of work. They would stop off and knock on doors just for something to eat. They were so grateful no matter what it was - this was sad.
And then there were those men who simply gave up. Their clothes wore out and they became hobos or bums. They also rode the rails, begged for food, and had camps along the railroad tracks. If you would go down Baumer Street early in the morning, you would see them hopping off the trains.