Washington used to have three newspapers that citizens could get on a daily basis, The Washington Daily News, The News & Observer and The Virginia Pilot. The Grit came only on Saturdays and was not delivered to our homes, but rather paid for after receiving the newspaper on site. The N&O and The Virginia Pilot were morning papers. The Washington Daily News, which everyone subscribed to, was delivered in the afternoon, and the paperboy could be seen on his bicycle every afternoon delivering the paper.

I saw Gary McGowan one day in the drug store, and he reminded me of just how much work the paperboys did and of the responsibilities they learned. I decided to research this a little myself, and I learned the rest of the story. The two morning papers were delivered to the old courthouse where Mrs. Wallace met her paperboys each morning. The paperboys had to roll the paper and put them into a plastic sleeve if it was raining. Regardless, the paper had to be delivered despite any form of inclement weather. Mrs. Wallace was responsible for collecting the monthly or weekly fee so that her boys never touched any currency.

The Washington Daily News was delivered in the afternoon after school. Like Gary, this also kept some young men from participating in afterschool activities but provided them with a small income. Delivering papers was a time-consuming job, yet taught many young men valuable life skills in responsibility and commitment, especially if they had to roll the paper and add inserts then roll a rubber band on them to keep the papers in place, making them heavier. Still, they got it done!

I can still hear the thump of the newspaper hitting the front door, and my Mom telling Rose Ann and me it was only the paperboy delivering the paper. They took great pride in throwing the paper from the street to the porch, saving them time to continue their route. They could be recognized by the big baskets on the front of their bicycles and, later, the saddle bags across the rear fender of their bikes. No one knew the preparation that went into delivering papers but we all wanted to be a paperboy once in our life.

Men like Clyde Roberson, Bobby Roberson, John Hill, David Noe, Larry Schmitt, Gus Youmans, Donald and Larry Jones and Skybo Langley all delivered papers at some time during their high school days. Mr. Clyde said that he “delivered papers to all of west Washington” during his days as a paperboy. The most famous of the paperboys was William Finalayson. He not only delivered the paper but also groceries for Bowers Grocery. He could be seen waving to others, and he always had a big smile on his face as he made deliveries all over town.

Now the personal touch is missing. There was something about delivering the paper that every former paperboy — and there were many — remembers, and they always talk about it with a smile. Thank you for all the hard work!

I hope that everyone will have a very Merry Christmas and the safest of New Years!

They were the best of times with the best of friends and in the best of places, Washington, N.C.! The Original Washington!

— Harold Jr.

Harold Robinson Jr. is a native of Washington.