Many of the neighborhood men belonged to a social club on Margaret Street. They paid monthly dues to have a place to play cards or simply socialize with their friends over beer and wine.
Sundays were especially popular. Men would arrive in their Sunday best shortly after attending services at one of the neighborhood Catholic churches, St. Leonard's, St. Mary's, or Sacred Heart.
I was about 11 when I decided to try and earn spending money shining shoes at the club. I was there every Sunday with my shoe shine box.
I was rarely asked how much for a shine. Most gave 25 cents and agreed to a shine whether or not they even needed one. Dress shoes were only worn to church, weddings and funerals. Think about it. How scuffed could any of those shoes be?
I've kept my hand made shoe box and all of my original brushes and polishing cloths. This shoe box is pretty special to me. It facilitated my proudest moment and the first time I earned my own money.
Christmas was approaching. I really wanted to buy mom something really special, her first electric toaster. She got pretty good using the contraption that held slices over a stove top burner. Occasionally one would burst into flames.
I saved as much as I could but it wasn't fast enough. Mom's friend Christy stepped in. She agreed to buy the toaster for me and I'd pay her back over time. Every Sunday after shining shoes, I proudly make a payment. She kept the money in a coffee can along with a written tally and balance. I still remember how much I loved seeing it shrink and guessing how many more Sundays it would take. That day finally came. Her family gathered together when they heard me climbing the steps to her second floor apartment on Snow Hill Street. After handing it to her, she entered the final payment and signed the paper paid in full. Everyone hugged me.
That Christmas was the very best ever.