Greetings faithful readers. I didn't think that I would get my column out this soon because of the health problems I've been having lately. Yes, more health problems, and I had to make a trip to the emergency room at the hospital. It's sure hell to get old. Somehow I managed to put this column together and I hope that next time conditions will be more favorable.
I see that The Citizen advertises frequently for delivery people. Years ago, this wasn't necessary because there were plenty of boys looking for paper routes, and I was one of them. However, I wasn't able to get a route at The Citizen because there never seemed to be any open.
I also applied at the two Syracuse newspapers that had home delivery routes in Auburn, The Post-Standard and The Herald-Journal, but I couldn't get a route at those papers either.
I finally wound up selling The Herald-American, which was the Sunday edition of The Herald-Journal, on the street. One of the places that I sold the papers was in front of St. Mary's Church, selling to people coming out of church. It was possible to sell some papers because The Citizen didn't publish a Sunday paper at that time.
Then one day I walked in The Herald-Journal at the right time. A carrier had just quit his route and it was given to me. It also happened to be the route that covered the street that I lived on in the west end. I was paid on a commission basis and since I had a lot of customers, I made about $8 a week. This was good money for those days. I believe The Citizen route paid about $2.50 a week. Papers sold for 3 cents then, 10 cents on Sunday.
I remember when The Herald-Journal was two separate newspapers, The Syracuse Herald and The Syracuse Journal, and both had delivery routes in Auburn, three Syracuse papers in all. Today there is just one, The Post-Standard.
The Citizen was originally The Auburn Citizen. It became The Citizen-Advertiser when it combined with The Advertiser-Journal, and finally, The Citizen.
The former building where The Citizen was published was also on Dill Street but across the street from the present building. It had a large window in front that looked down on the press room. Passersby could look in the window and watch the papers roll off the press, which I did quite often.
Auburn is one of the most historic cities in New York state, if not the most historic. Unfortunately, many of its historic resources have been destroyed, all in the name of so-called progress.
However, some of its historic buildings have been retained. I'm especially glad that we still have the historic post office, one of the most historic buildings in Auburn. I spent 32 happy years there and did so with great pride. As postmaster, I kept it in tip-top shape while making sure to retain its historic appearance. I'm glad to see that it is still being properly maintained.
The Cayuga Museum of History and Art is another building that I'm glad is still part of our historic culture. As we all know, it used to be the home of Theodore Case, who played an important role in the development of sound on film.
I'm also glad that we still have Seymour Library because it was an important part of my life during my elementary school years. Many are the library books that I read in those days.
The Cayuga County Courthouse Building is quite an imposing structure with its tall pillars and is another building that we don't want to lose. It contributes to Auburn's character.
Of Auburn's newer buildings, the most attractive is the city hall. I don't know who the architect was but he did a great job. It is one of the nicest-looking government buildings I've ever seen. We should all be proud of it.
The Seward House on South Street is quite a tourist attraction. William H. Seward served as governor of New York state, U.S. senator and secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln. He was nearly nominated for president but lost out to Lincoln.
I recently learned that the house I grew up in on Jefferson Street has quite a history. Sebeo Hornbeck, an African-American, lived there with his wife, Mary, from about 1854 until his death in 1865. His son, John, and wife, Cornelia, lived in the house next door. Several other African-American families also lived on Jefferson Street.
Sebeo Hornbeck arrived in Auburn in about 1840 as a freedom-seeker from Maryland.
He was one of the earliest documented African-Americans born in the South to settle in Cayuga County. Quite likely he arrived on the Underground Railroad.
I guess I better bring this column to a close so I can get it to The Citizen on time.
It's the cold season, so bundle up.
Carmelo Signorelli is an Auburn resident who enjoys reminiscing about the good ol' days
I also applied at the two Syracuse newspapers that had home delivery routes in Auburn, The Post-Standard and The Herald-Journal, but I couldn't get a route at those papers either.
I finally wound up selling The Herald-American, which was the Sunday edition of The Herald-Journal, on the street. One of the places that I sold the papers was in front of St. Mary's Church, selling to people coming out of church. It was possible to sell some papers because The Citizen didn't publish a Sunday paper at that time.
Then one day I walked in The Herald-Journal at the right time. A carrier had just quit his route and it was given to me. It also happened to be the route that covered the street that I lived on in the west end. I was paid on a commission basis and since I had a lot of customers, I made about $8 a week. This was good money for those days. I believe The Citizen route paid about $2.50 a week. Papers sold for 3 cents then, 10 cents on Sunday.
I remember when The Herald-Journal was two separate newspapers, The Syracuse Herald and The Syracuse Journal, and both had delivery routes in Auburn, three Syracuse papers in all. Today there is just one, The Post-Standard.
The Citizen was originally The Auburn Citizen. It became The Citizen-Advertiser when it combined with The Advertiser-Journal, and finally, The Citizen.
The former building where The Citizen was published was also on Dill Street but across the street from the present building. It had a large window in front that looked down on the press room. Passersby could look in the window and watch the papers roll off the press, which I did quite often.
Auburn is one of the most historic cities in New York state, if not the most historic. Unfortunately, many of its historic resources have been destroyed, all in the name of so-called progress.
However, some of its historic buildings have been retained. I'm especially glad that we still have the historic post office, one of the most historic buildings in Auburn. I spent 32 happy years there and did so with great pride. As postmaster, I kept it in tip-top shape while making sure to retain its historic appearance. I'm glad to see that it is still being properly maintained.
The Cayuga Museum of History and Art is another building that I'm glad is still part of our historic culture. As we all know, it used to be the home of Theodore Case, who played an important role in the development of sound on film.
I'm also glad that we still have Seymour Library because it was an important part of my life during my elementary school years. Many are the library books that I read in those days.
The Cayuga County Courthouse Building is quite an imposing structure with its tall pillars and is another building that we don't want to lose. It contributes to Auburn's character.
Of Auburn's newer buildings, the most attractive is the city hall. I don't know who the architect was but he did a great job. It is one of the nicest-looking government buildings I've ever seen. We should all be proud of it.
The Seward House on South Street is quite a tourist attraction. William H. Seward served as governor of New York state, U.S. senator and secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln. He was nearly nominated for president but lost out to Lincoln.
I recently learned that the house I grew up in on Jefferson Street has quite a history. Sebeo Hornbeck, an African-American, lived there with his wife, Mary, from about 1854 until his death in 1865. His son, John, and wife, Cornelia, lived in the house next door. Several other African-American families also lived on Jefferson Street.
Sebeo Hornbeck arrived in Auburn in about 1840 as a freedom-seeker from Maryland.
He was one of the earliest documented African-Americans born in the South to settle in Cayuga County. Quite likely he arrived on the Underground Railroad.
I guess I better bring this column to a close so I can get it to The Citizen on time.
It's the cold season, so bundle up.
Carmelo Signorelli is an Auburn resident who enjoys reminiscing about the good ol' days
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nature lover wrote on Jan 27, 2008 7:26 PM: