Sunday, September 29, 2019

At Work in the Grocery Store


At Work in the Grocery Store

For most of us we spend more time at work than any other activity except sleeping. I spent 37 years as a teacher and then school librarian. I also worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years both before and after being a regular teacher. I was a referee high school hockey, basketball and softball for about 10 years while working at my other jobs. But, before all that I worked four years in a grocery store working my way through college. I wish I kept a journal all those years – so many memories lost.

I worked at Two Guys grocery store in Cherry Hill where I stocked shelves. Mary Matolla, an older lady, and I were the only female stock “boys”. The guys were a variety of young and old. I don’t remember all the names. Jack Cassidy was about my age. He was a typical young guy of that era, long hair, drugs, former college student. He was a pleasant guy to work with. Another one whose name I can’t remember was about the same age and went to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Reds Gilbert(?) worked part time at Two Guys and full time at another grocery store with my mom. He got me the job. John Slane was the assistant manager of the stock bunch. He was a homosexual whose adversity made him a little negative. The guys were so intolerant. He was always nice to me and I counted him a friend. Myrtle Kennedy, Chris and Shirley Dill were some of the cashiers. Myrtle was older and a little tough but nice too. Chris was about my age and like Jack Cassidy was a child of the hippie generation. Shirley was a nice person, basically happy while raising a family and working full time. Later my mom would occasionally see her at bingo. Earl was the produce man who lived in Westville. Minnie Rosencrantz worked in the meat department. I grew up in an Irish Catholic town and unbelievably I didn’t know Minnie was Jewish until after several years she was talking about a holiday. She laughed when I told her I thought she was Italian. Mr. Hanigan was the receiver. Mr. Pratt was the area supervisor. He was a large heavy man who had been an Army officer and ran and treated us like we were his soldiers. Eugene Salzgruber worked in the department store side. I dated him a few times and was on a company bowling team with him. He was a big happy guy. I think he eventually married an older woman with children and died somewhat young.  My job was mainly the “candy aisle”. It ran the entire length of the row, quite long. I’ve never seen that much in any other store. Also, there would be displays on the endcaps. I also stocked other things as needed. The worst was the sugar. The pallet weighed 1 ton or more and you would have pull it out with a manual hand truck that had the forks of a forklift truck. The aisles were wide enough that the pallet could be pulled down it. Occasionally I was puzzled when a customer would call you boy when my hair was to my waist and I wore a pink smock. OK, the guys at that time had long hair. I hated the beginning of the month when food stamps came out and I would have to jump on the register. No scanners in those day and items would be marked like 3 for 59 cents and you would have to figure out how much the one can they bought cost. That way if they bought just one the price would be a penny more. Registers didn’t calculate change.

I worked there for 4 years. At the time I didn’t always think it was the best job but looking back it was a good job. The pay was good. I graduated from college not owing a dime. It was an introduction to the working world and working with a variety of people. Sometimes I think I should have kept that job a little part time one after becoming a teacher. Teaching paid less than being a grocery clerk and would have been a supplement.


#Grocery Store, #Work, #First Job, #52 Ancestors, #52 Ancestors-At Work

Sunday, September 8, 2019

My Ancestors Jobs

Earl left officer
My dad, Earl Moore was a policeman. After WWII he worked in a wood working job for a short time before joining the Gloucester City, NJ police department. In those days 2 officers rode in a car. His first partner was Bud Lane. He was a good guy and a good partner. One day they drove into the alley at the department and he went inside. Bud stayed in the car. When my dad came back out Bud had suffered a heart attack and died.
A few years later he became a sergeant. His partner was Steve Farrell. Our families would do things together like going to an amusement park. Then he became Chief of Police about 1961. My dad had a good heart and I think he was respected.
Midge on far rt.
My mom, Millicent "Midge" (Wiedrich) Moore worked many years in grocery stores including ACME markets and Thriftway. Once she was held up with a gun held to her head. Later she worked for Oakwood Uniform in their office. But before all this she worked as a waitress in a diner. She started work at 12 years old after school. The diner was Security on Crescent Blvd. (Rt. 130) in West Collingswood Heights, NJ.


Ed on ice wagon
My grandfather, Edward Wiedrich was many things. He was a merchant sailor in WWI and in WWII. He was an iceman when he met my grandmother. Then he worked in the Wierd Plow factory. After work he cleaned up at the bean factory, bringing home the sweepings for his kids to pick out the stray beans. (It was the depression.) After moving to Florida he worked in a boat yard building boats.

Hazel's Doll Hospital
My grandmother, Hazel (Bristol) Wiedrich learned the trade of men's tailoring and haberdashery. After she married and had children she had a doll hospital. There were boxes with various color eyes, things to restring dolls, paints to restore china dolls, different color hair. She would even give dolls hair from the person.




Charles' crew
My paternal grandfather, Charles S. Moore was a waterman. He built wharfs, piers and bridges over water. Much of his
work was done in Camden, NJ but he did work other places. Later he was the foreman. One of the bridges he built was a train bridge either to or from Westville, NJ.




My paternal great grandfather, Charles S. Moore was a cooper and a carpenter. My maternal 2nd great grandfather had a public house (saloon) in Grafton, Dakota Territory in the 1880s and then went to Great Falls, Montana and had a hotel. Most everyone else on my mom's side were farmers.

#Earl Moore, #Policeman, #Millicent Moore, #Millicent Wiedrich, #Waitress, #Edward Weidrich, #Sailor, #Iceman, #Hazel Wiedrich, #Hazel Bristol, #Haberdashery, #Dolls, #Charles S. Moore, #Waterman, #Carpenter, #Cooper

At Work In the Grocery Store


For most of us we spend more time at work than any other activity except sleeping. I spent 37 years as a teacher and then school librarian. I also worked as a substitute teacher for 5 years both before and after being a regular teacher. Before that I worked four years in a grocery store working my way through college. I refereed high school hockey, basketball and softball for about 10 years while working at my other jobs. I wish I kept a journal all those years – so many memories lost.

I worked at Two Guys grocery store in Cherry Hill where I stocked shelves. Mary Matolla, an older lady, and I were the only female stock “boys”. The guys were a variety of young and old. I don’t remember all the names. Jack Cassidy was about my age. He was a typical young guy of that era, long hair, drugs, former college student. He was a pleasant guy to work with. Another one whose name I can’t remember was about the same age and went to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Reds Gilbert(?) worked part time at Two Guys and full time at another grocery was with my mom. He got me the job. John Slane was the assistant manager of the stock bunch. He was a homosexual whose adversity made him a little negative. But he was always nice to me and I counted him a friend. Myrtle Kennedy, Chris and Shirley were some of the cashiers. Myrtle was older and a little tough but nice too. Chris was about my age and like Jack Cassidy was a child of the hippie generation. Shirley was a large lady and a nice person, basically happy. Later my mom would occasionally see her at bingo. Earl was the produce man who lived in Westville. Minnie Rosencrantz worked in the meat department. I grew up in an Irish Catholic town and unbelievably I didn’t know Minnie was Jewish until after several years she was talking about a holiday. Mr. Hanigan was the receiver. Mr. Pratt was the area supervisor. He was a large heavy man who had been an Army officer and ran and treated us like we were his soldiers. Eugene Salzgruber worked in the department store side. I dated him a few times and was on a company bowling team with him. He was a big happy guy. I think he eventually married an older woman with children and died somewhat young.  My job was mainly the “candy aisle”. It ran the entire length of the row, quite long. I’ve never seen that much in any other store. Also, there would be displays on the endcaps. I also stocked other things as needed. The worst was the sugar. The pallet weighed 1 to 2 tons you and would pull it out with a manual hand truck that had the forks of a forklift truck. The aisles were wide enough that the pallet could be pulled down it. Occasionally it was puzzling when a customer would call you boy when my hair was to my waist and I wore a pink smock. OK, the guys at that time had long hair. I hated the beginning of the month when food stamps came out and I would have to jump on the register. No scanners in those day and items would be marked like 3 for 59 cents. That way if they bought just one the price would be a penny more. Registered didn’t calculate change. Sometimes I think I should have continued to work part time after I started teaching since I made less teaching. It wasn’t such a bad job.
#Work, #Grocery stores, #52 Ancestors, #Two Guys store, #Arlene Baker, #Arlene Moore, #52 Ancestors - Work