History

[Jim DiSpagno]

As a little kid in the fifties, I can vividly remember an old Italian man with a horse and wagon coming around once a week past my Grandmother's house to pick up anything metal and glass. It would be placed at the curb in wooden crates and the crates were put back in place when emptied. There was a slew of cowbells on the wagon so you knew when he was there and we would run out with carrots for this old horse and water for the old man. This was in Staten Island in the fifties. One of the five boros of NYC, Staten Island had venders with fresh produce, milk, juice, and eggs, bread and cake, potato chips, sharpeners, paper and metal collectors, and fish mongers all coming through neighborhoods in a variety of vehicles from push carts and horse and wagons to modified cars and trucks. to supply a variety of services to their home community. Grocery stores and delis delivered without charge, soft drink companies delivered to homes on a regular schedule and kids helped elderly neighbors with everyday tasks such as weeding, lawn mowing , leaf raking and snow removal at no charge. You were not allowed to take money from the older folks who were just getting by. This built character and respect. Now those tasks are let to the immigrant workers and you pay dearly for them. SHAME ON US.