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Paperboy remembers kindness of Blanche Hower
By Mark J. Price
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Mar 16, 2009
Welcome to the latest news about the past. Here are some updates from the world of This Place, This Time:
• Akron resident Gene Abdenour, 91, read with interest our article about the Victorian teas that will be held Saturday and Sunday at Hower House.
As a boy, he was a daily visitor to the 28-room mansion at Fir Hill and Forge Street.
Educator, legislator and socialite Blanche Hower (1862-1952) was a customer on Abdenour's route when he was a news carrier for the Akron Times-Press in the Great Depression.
''I delivered papers to Mrs. Hower, who was a very nice, gentle lady, and she always gave me a tip, usually $5 at holidays and other times,'' Abdenour said.
Abdenour lived on Brown Street at Crouse Street in the early 1930s and delivered papers to about 50 homes on his route. Some customers weren't as generous as Mrs. Hower.
Occasionally when Abdenour went to collect money, he rang the doorbells and saw the drapes move, but no one answered.
''I didn't lose much money to the ladies who cheated me,'' he said. ''Nearly all my customers were honest and tipped me.''
The Times-Press honored the Central High School student for selling the second-most subscriptions in the city. Among his prize winnings were two bicycles, a 1931 trip to the Indianapolis 500 and a 1933 Continental automobile — before he could drive.
Even though times were tough, Abdenour was thrilled with his modest profit. He and his younger sibling saved money each week until they had $29.
''My brother Emil also had a paper route, and between the two of us, we managed to scrape enough to buy a Sears radio,'' Abdenour said.
• Speaking of the Akron Times-Press, how many of you remember this one?
Akron native Jerry Slonsky, 65, who moved with his family to Phoenix in 1957, recalls a ''face game'' from childhood.
''Parents would touch a kid on their forehead and say 'Akron,' then on their chin and say 'Beacon,' then on their right cheek and say 'Journal,' then on their left cheek and say 'Times,' and finally push on their nose and say 'Press.' ''
The nose-pressing pastime outlived the Times-Press, which merged with the Beacon Journal in 1938.
''I still do it to my kids and grandkids,'' Slonsky said.
He grew up on North Hill, where his father owned a grocery store at 704 N. Main St. Even though Slonsky moved away decades ago, Akron still feels like home.
''I'd love a Swensons burger or a plate of spaghetti at Luigi's so I could watch the band box,'' Slonsky said. ''I could tell you a million things about Akron that I miss and love dearly.''
• The Ohio Department of Aging wants to hear stories from Ohio residents who endured the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Agency officials are collecting tales from seniors ''so that the sacrifices they made and the lessons they learned may be shared with other generations currently facing tough economic times.''
The stories, which will be featured in department publications, should be about 500 words long and include the individual's name, location and age.
Mail them to Ohio Department of Aging, Attn: Communications Division, 50 W. Broad St., Ninth Floor, Columbus, OH 43215-3363. Memories also can be e-mailed to depressionstories@age.state.oh.us.
The deadline is April 10.
Mark J. Price is a Beacon Journal copy editor. He can be reached at 330-996-3850 or send e-mail to mjprice@thebeaconjournal.com.
Welcome to the latest news about the past. Here are some updates from the world of This Place, This Time:
Get the full article here.
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