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FuzzyRabbit

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27. Messman (dishwasher and cook's helper) on an ocean going tugboat.

Wed Jun 25, 2025, 08:58 PM

Jun 25

Sixty years ago, back in the 1960s, some companies provided a few good jobs to students. My dad got me a job on an ocean going tug that towed freight barges to Alaska. I was able to earn enough to pay for a year at college.

Mom was afraid that I, her only son, would be associating with a rough class of men, sailors you know. However, the other crewmen were all first class people. Well, my best friend on the boat had just been released from the state prison for beating up a policeman. He was a really nice guy though. I never told mom about him.

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debm55

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what was the first job you had where taxes and SS were taken out. I worked on a work study program at Penn State in the [View all] debm55 Jun 25 OP

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Thank you very much Beatlelvr. debm55 Jun 25 #3

US Army. Woodwizard Jun 25 #2

Thank you very much Woodwizard. I had baby sitting jobs. too. US Army-great. debm55 Jun 25 #4

First 'real' job,,,, a life guard and swimming instructor,,,, KarenS Jun 25 #5

Thank you very much. KarenS debm55 Jun 25 #7

Pumped gas and fixed tires Arger68 Jun 25 #6

Thank you very much Arger68, I remember when the gas station guys would wash your windows and you would give them a tip debm55 Jun 25 #8

Worked in a funeral home my first year in college RoadRunner Jun 25 #9

Oh my, Thank you Roadrunner, My dentist told me he put himself through dental school by driving bodies up to Penn State debm55 Jun 25 #11

Kitchen at school justaprogressive Jun 25 #10

Justaprogressive. what did you have to do to earn the 4 pennies????? debm55 Jun 25 #12

took out the trash justaprogressive Jun 25 #13

HAHAHAHHA. Thank you justaprogressive. Well it was a start. debm55 Jun 25 #14

Hawking scorecards, peanuts, and gum in the grandstands Submariner Jun 25 #15

Thank you Submariner. My husband, Rich, is from Boston. Fenway franks are the best. I would have loved your job. Loved debm55 Jun 25 #16

I worked in a grocery store at 16. Started paying into Medicare a year later. sinkingfeeling Jun 25 #17

Thank you very much, Sinkingfeeling. debm55 Jun 25 #18

Delivered blueprints in the Chicago Loop. boonecreek Jun 25 #19

HAHAHAHAHHA. That is great boonecreek. debm55 Jun 26 #42

Pump jockey Oeditpus Rex Jun 25 #20

hanahahaha. Thank you Oeditpus Rex. Sounds like a fun job. debm55 Jun 26 #41

Janitor's Assistant At A Banquet Hall ProfessorGAC Jun 25 #21

Thank you very much ProfessorGAC, Interesting job. debm55 Jun 26 #40

Also work study in college. arkielib Jun 25 #22

Thank you very much arkielib.Sounds likr s great job. debm55 Jun 26 #39

Summer camp arts and crafts councilor . surrealAmerican Jun 25 #23

Thank you very much surrealAmerican. . I worked as a summer playground art and craft instructor. Paid under the table. debm55 Jun 26 #38

i worked for a church. janitorial. AllaN01Bear Jun 25 #24

Thank you very much AllaN01Bear. debm55 Jun 26 #37

I worked in a carpet cleaning business LogDog75 Jun 25 #25

Thank you very much LogDog75. Sounds like a hard job. debm55 Jun 26 #36

1969-11 years old and watered plants at a local condominium chicoescuela Jun 25 #26

Thank you very much chicoescuela. Sounds like a great job. debm55 Jun 26 #35

Messman (dishwasher and cook's helper) on an ocean going tugboat. FuzzyRabbit Jun 25 #27

Thank you Fuzzy Rabbit. That sounds like a very unique job. debm55 Jun 26 #34

I was 18 and living in Nashville. My first job was at Woolco, an affiliate of Woolworth. MIButterfly Jun 25 #28

Sounds like a crummy job. Thank you for sharing MIButterfly. debm55 Jun 26 #33

JC Penney's women's clothing section when I was 16 in 1967. $1.60 an hour. 3catwoman3 Jun 25 #29

That's was insulting. 3catwoman3 , Did you quit? debm55 Jun 26 #32

I was tempted, but getting too close to retirement... 3catwoman3 Jun 26 #43

Dishwasher/soda jerk at Seward's Family Restaurant nuxvomica Jun 26 #30

Thank you very much. nuxvomica. debm55 Jun 26 #31

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Thank you very much, Mal, Yes, that is a shame. Was wondering if the KMart was torn down also. debm55 Jun 27 #50

Yup. It was eventually replaced with a three-store strip mall... malthaussen Jun 27 #58

Thank you very much, Mal debm55 Jun 27 #63

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Thank you Figarosmom for sharing with us. Ps I loved your tiny horse post. debm55 Jun 27 #51

McDonalds. About this time. usonian Jun 27 #46

Thank you very much usonian. 15 cent burgers. I love the cars parked in front of the sign, too debm55 Jun 27 #68

a bank teller at the Harvard Trust in Harvard Square, Cambridge nt yellowdogintexas Jun 27 #47

Thank you very much yellowdogintexas. debm55 Jun 27 #69

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Thank you OldBaldy1701E, That was some very hard work. debm55 Jun 27 #49

Grading and packing tomatoes. I had just had my 15th birthday. littlemissmartypants Jun 27 #52

Thank you very much littlemisssmartypants. You are so kind. debm55 Jun 27 #70

1974 UpInArms Jun 27 #53

Thank you very much, UpinArms. debm55 Jun 27 #72

I sold bikes at Toys R US CanonRay Jun 27 #54

Thank you CanonRay. Did you have to put them together? debm55 Jun 27 #66

Just handlebars and seats, as I recall CanonRay Jun 27 #67

Thank you CanonRay, debm55 Jun 27 #71

I worked in a shoe store crud Jun 27 #55

HAHAHAHHAhahha. thank you very much crud. debm55 Jun 27 #65

Part time job in a newspaper press room. Turbineguy Jun 27 #56

Thank you very Turbineguy. That must have been a interesting job. debm55 Jun 27 #61

Paper route......in my teens Historic NY Jun 27 #57

Thank you very much, Historic NY. debm55 Jun 27 #60

1960 JL Hudson Detroit. Don't remember the hourly. Srkdqltr Jun 27 #59

Setting chokers gladium et scutum Jun 27 #62

Thank you very much for sharing with us, gladium et scutum. debm55 Jun 27 #64