National Newspaper Carrier Day is Today

I got my first paper route when I was 10 years old.  Delivering the Davison Index every Wednesday.  Coincidentally, the first newspaper carrier was 10-year-old Barney Flaherty, who sold the New York Sun in 1833.

Whether or not young Mr. Flaherty was actually the first paperboy, September 4th is now known as National Newspaper Carrier Day.

Delivering papers was a good job for me.  It taught me responsibility at a young age, and I was rewarded for my hard work by earning my own money.  A couple of years later, I took on a daily route delivering the Detroit Free Press.

I worked a lot harder, but made more money and won several trips and prizes for selling subscriptions.  I also learned that by giving good service, like putting the paper inside the storm door or in the mailbox instead of just tossing it, would earn me extra income in the form of tips.

As an added bonus, I got to read the paper for free!

In this day and age, newspaper carriers are dwindling in numbers as fewer people still read the paper in it's old form.  I suppose it's a sign of the times.

But for those who still make a buck or two by delivering the news to people's doorstep, we salute you today!