The article on the paper delivery carriers brought a smile to my face, remembering my two younger brothers, Sonny and Donny Iverson.
For a few years in the mid-40s and early ’50s, at ages somewhere between 10 to 14, they delivered The Columbian by pony and riding cart. We lived in the rural area of Lakeshore-Felida. The country roads were hilly and their delivery area covered several miles, with the number of customers somewhere in the neighborhood of 100, and took them several hours.
Because of the distance involved, the number of customers on their route and the heavy load of papers, the pony and buggy was the perfect solution. I have pictures of the pair, pulled by horse and buggy, and trailed the entire way by our faithful husky dog, Rusty, who never let them out of his sight.
Donny grew up to become known as Coach Ivy at three of the high schools in Vancouver, and later, an administrator in the school system. As an adult, Sonny grew into his given name, Orv, as a well-known debate and forensic speech professor emeritus at Clark College. I wish they were here now to recall some of their experiences while delivering The Columbian.
