Nothing sticks with you like your first job, whether it was stocking shelves at a grocery store, serving fast food at the drive-thru, or running errands as an office assistant. We asked readers for their first job memories, and — maybe because so many had experience with paper routes — they delivered.
Read up
It turns out your neighbor probably had a Lakeland Ledger paper route back in the day. Deborah S. remembers “selling subscriptions to the newspaper back in 1975,” and Lindy Y. said, “It was a lot of fun and [I] got paid for it!”
The Lakeland Public Library has also employed many Lakelanders over the decades. “I’ve always loved reading both fiction and nonfiction,” Debra W. told us. “As a young page, it was a great opportunity to work amidst and read a wealth of genres.”
Regaling retail
The building next to Mister Fish was once home to the Lakeland Rubber Stamp Co. “I was there fresh out of high school in 1983 to 2001,” Sharon P. said. “Great memories of working next door to beautiful Lake Morton and always having a parking spot for Mayfaire.”
Remember Maas Brothers? This downtown department store drew plenty of Lakelanders, including Judi W., who said it was a great place to work. Jemy H. said they stayed busy gift-wrapping customer purchases, and Alison T. remembers the “awesome” restaurant.
Michael bared shared this shocking memory of working at F.W. Woolworth with us: “I was a part-time porter at night while I was attending Southeastern University. One night while I was cleaning the entrance doors, a streaker ran up the sidewalk wearing only his tennis shoes!” Maybe he should have stopped at Maas Brothers for new digs.
Fun in the sun
Cappie W. said they worked “at the ‘Old Simp and Adair Pools,’” and remember attractions like the merry-go-round at Simpson Park and the train at Adair Park.
Diana E. painted a picture of memories from the Lakeland Yacht Club. “The sound of tennis balls being hit in the early morning. The breeze from Lake Hollingsworth by the pool. The gators that would come up by the dining room window as it rained. The sound of kids splashing in the water.”
Foodie firsts
“I remember having so much fun decorating cakes,” said Emily M. of working in the Winn-Dixie bakery. “On nights that I closed I would practice writing in icing or making roses, which has really come in handy for family parties.”
Many local fast food spots also got a nod from readers. Betty I. mentioned refilling the salad bar at the Wendy’s on Bartow Road 42 years ago, and Susie E. worked at the Hardee’s on South Florida Avenue back in 1979. Erika D. also shouted out the South Florida Avenue Taco Bell, which was the “biggest teen hangout and perfect spot for cruising in the ‘90s.”
Editor’s pick
Finally, we couldn’t resist sharing this story from reader Scott L. about delivering Lakeland Ledger newspapers in 1977:
“I was 14, and living on Lake Morton. My route was the south side of the lake from Mississippi Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, ending at McDonald Street (Frank Lloyd Wright Way). The daily paper was delivered in the afternoon. A few bundles of papers awaited my return home from school each weekday, and early morning on the weekends. Once the papers were bagged or rubber banded, I set out on foot with my sack of papers.
“Delivering was fun! Delivering was target practice. Every doorstep, every porch swing, every deck chair had a bullseye. If you’ve never tossed a tightly rolled and banded newspaper 40 feet with a perfect landing, you’ve missed out. The “clap” of the newspaper as it sticks the landing without further movement. The news has arrived!
“It was a carnival game with every throw. Long toss, short toss, underhand or overhand. Each attempt a potential game winner! I’ll never forget the lady on Riggins Street. She played along. An empty flower pot became my Grand Prize throw. She gave me brownies when I collected her monthly bill. She’d always include a little extra so I could visit Mister Fish on my way back home. I think most of my earnings went toward their corn fritters! I still think of that lady, her flower pot, and the carnival games I used to play.
“The sound of a newspaper announcing its arrival as it hits the sidewalk, sliding and spinning its way to its destination, is a magical sound not easily captured in this digital age, when the newspaper is delivered with a click. And the carnival games have come to an end, becoming nothing but old news and memories.”
Note: Reader responses have been lightly edited for brevity + clarity.
