Not sure of the dates. In those days I was an island worker and did the garbage truck in June to help out. So I was a quasi truck guy, but I believe the first girl to work for the island in that capacity.
Worked for Dave Kayler, can't remember the exact years. I think it was 1974/75 and maybe 76 but not sure. Worked with Neddy Rines, Harlan, Wes, Melly, Sarkis, and Carl (it was quite the crew!) I loved the job and Dave and Sandy Kayler were terrific. Dave was a real mentor and taught me all sorts of things I wish I could remember how to do now, just as wiring, soldering, putting PVC pipes together. Sandy was a woman oasis among a bunch of guys, and in my opinion a saint for putting up with it all. I loved the variety of the job; mowing, painting, cleaning the beaches, clearing the trails, helping install electrical stuff and fixing broken pipes. My favorite part was working with Dave and learning how to do things.
I had worked on the island as a house cleaner when I was 13 and then at the Tea Shop 14-17. I wanted to continue to be on the island during the summer so jumped at the chance to work for the island. The biggest challenge was proving I could do the job, and not letting Dave down who took a risk hiring me. There are lots of memories, not so sure funny stories!
Carl thought I wouldn't last a week, and there were bets on how long I would last. The first day they had Neddy and I shovel sand from the old Casino site into a truck, cart it to the road near Pat Harrisons and shovel it back out to fill up the pot holes. Took all day but no way was I going to give up! Mowing the field with the tractor wearing my bikini top so I could get a better tan. The only worker NOT to get the tractor stuck on the beach when cleaning up the seaweed. (although getting it down to the beach scared the heck out of me, always thought I would drive it right into the water)
Picking up the garbage in the rain with the dump truck. I had to lift the bags over my head to heave them into the truck and sometimes they broke, then drive to the dump and haul it out since the dumping part didn't always work. Burning the dump with Sarkis (who I think was from Iraq and had a heavy accent). There had to be someone to stay in case of fire.
Painted the big oil tanks at the docks and got more paint on me than the tanks as I had to sit on them to paint them. Fixing sewer pipes, ugh! They got a new pipe cutter and said "give it to the college kid" to read the directions. Typical men! Fixing a broken pipe under the Powell's house by myself. This was a big deal to me and I was so worried the pipe would break again. Loring had faith and always commented on what a good job I had done.
My job wasn't the same as the truck guys today so wouldn't know what to say to a new recruit. I really don't remember what was going on on Squirrel during those summers. I was still a teenager so more engrossed in our own activities. I think Tina Thomas was the town hall director, and Henry was the tennis pro.
Worked for Dave Kayler, can't remember the exact years. I think it was 1974/75 and maybe 76 but not sure. Worked with Neddy Rines, Harlan, Wes, Melly, Sarkis, and Carl (it was quite the crew!) I loved the job and Dave and Sandy Kayler were terrific. Dave was a real mentor and taught me all sorts of things I wish I could remember how to do now, just as wiring, soldering, putting PVC pipes together. Sandy was a woman oasis among a bunch of guys, and in my opinion a saint for putting up with it all. I loved the variety of the job; mowing, painting, cleaning the beaches, clearing the trails, helping install electrical stuff and fixing broken pipes. My favorite part was working with Dave and learning how to do things.
I had worked on the island as a house cleaner when I was 13 and then at the Tea Shop 14-17. I wanted to continue to be on the island during the summer so jumped at the chance to work for the island. The biggest challenge was proving I could do the job, and not letting Dave down who took a risk hiring me. There are lots of memories, not so sure funny stories!
Carl thought I wouldn't last a week, and there were bets on how long I would last. The first day they had Neddy and I shovel sand from the old Casino site into a truck, cart it to the road near Pat Harrisons and shovel it back out to fill up the pot holes. Took all day but no way was I going to give up! Mowing the field with the tractor wearing my bikini top so I could get a better tan. The only worker NOT to get the tractor stuck on the beach when cleaning up the seaweed. (although getting it down to the beach scared the heck out of me, always thought I would drive it right into the water)
Picking up the garbage in the rain with the dump truck. I had to lift the bags over my head to heave them into the truck and sometimes they broke, then drive to the dump and haul it out since the dumping part didn't always work. Burning the dump with Sarkis (who I think was from Iraq and had a heavy accent). There had to be someone to stay in case of fire.
Painted the big oil tanks at the docks and got more paint on me than the tanks as I had to sit on them to paint them. Fixing sewer pipes, ugh! They got a new pipe cutter and said "give it to the college kid" to read the directions. Typical men! Fixing a broken pipe under the Powell's house by myself. This was a big deal to me and I was so worried the pipe would break again. Loring had faith and always commented on what a good job I had done.
My job wasn't the same as the truck guys today so wouldn't know what to say to a new recruit. I really don't remember what was going on on Squirrel during those summers. I was still a teenager so more engrossed in our own activities. I think Tina Thomas was the town hall director, and Henry was the tennis pro.