Mark was a truck guy for five years. His first summer was with Josh Smith, a friend of his brother Chris. He also worked with Randy Page, an Island employee.
Mark recalled, "My first year on the truck was in 1989 when Beury Simons was the superintendent. The rest of my time was as a self contractor. That first year I was the new kid so they stuck me with boats without helping while they watched TV at the Farm House. They would say, 'If it gets busy, come and get us.' There was one really busy boat, and I got to Katherine Hodge's house with her groceries. She believed that so much heavy lifting would stunt my growth, so she insisted that I come in and sit down and have a glass of lemon water - while other people's groceries were out in the truck!
"Later, when I was working with Will Marinell, I went to take a quick bag into Janet Bickerstaff's while Will waited in the truck. I didn't come back for 15 minutes. Will asked, 'What were you doing?!' I replied, 'She had me vacuum her bedroom. I got the Electrolux in under her bed. I guess her back was hurting.' "
Mark worked with Will Marinell from 1993 to 1994. Later he worked with Rod McIlwain, Jeff MacDonald, and Brett Newbury. His cousin was Cara Ross. He said, "Cara Ross worked with us as an honorary member. She liked to help. I hope we at least treated her for lunch at the Tea Shop!" When asked who was at the Tea Shop then, Mark remembered Erin and Cristina Cinelli and Mari Huotari.
Mark told one more story. "Dave was an Island worker, and he was working on a truck in the garage at the Farm House. The Barbers were renting Theobold, (now big Pratt) and Andy (age maybe 7) came across the field and was pestering Dave. He would push on the truck to wiggle it. Dave asked him to leave, and he said, 'My parents rent, and I can do whatever I like.' Dave happened to be missing 3 fingers. He waved his hand at Andy and said, 'If you don't get out of here, I'm going to do to you what my father did to me.' Andy ran home and never bothered Dave again.'"
Mark recalled, "My first year on the truck was in 1989 when Beury Simons was the superintendent. The rest of my time was as a self contractor. That first year I was the new kid so they stuck me with boats without helping while they watched TV at the Farm House. They would say, 'If it gets busy, come and get us.' There was one really busy boat, and I got to Katherine Hodge's house with her groceries. She believed that so much heavy lifting would stunt my growth, so she insisted that I come in and sit down and have a glass of lemon water - while other people's groceries were out in the truck!
"Later, when I was working with Will Marinell, I went to take a quick bag into Janet Bickerstaff's while Will waited in the truck. I didn't come back for 15 minutes. Will asked, 'What were you doing?!' I replied, 'She had me vacuum her bedroom. I got the Electrolux in under her bed. I guess her back was hurting.' "
Mark worked with Will Marinell from 1993 to 1994. Later he worked with Rod McIlwain, Jeff MacDonald, and Brett Newbury. His cousin was Cara Ross. He said, "Cara Ross worked with us as an honorary member. She liked to help. I hope we at least treated her for lunch at the Tea Shop!" When asked who was at the Tea Shop then, Mark remembered Erin and Cristina Cinelli and Mari Huotari.
Mark told one more story. "Dave was an Island worker, and he was working on a truck in the garage at the Farm House. The Barbers were renting Theobold, (now big Pratt) and Andy (age maybe 7) came across the field and was pestering Dave. He would push on the truck to wiggle it. Dave asked him to leave, and he said, 'My parents rent, and I can do whatever I like.' Dave happened to be missing 3 fingers. He waved his hand at Andy and said, 'If you don't get out of here, I'm going to do to you what my father did to me.' Andy ran home and never bothered Dave again.'"