1950’s MILK MAN

The Keys History section in this morning’s Key West Citizen has several 1943 photos of Adam’s Dairy. One of the photos is that of a milk bottle.

Milk back then was contained in a glass bottle. As was chocolate milk and orange juice. No plastic cartons.

I was a milk man in 1959 while attending law school. I was at the dairy at 3:45 in the morning loading my truck. Left the dairy for my first delivery 4:15. Finished the run in time so I was seated for the start of my first class at the law school at 9.

Two recollections of the job.

I learned how to carry five glass bottles of milk in one hand. Three through the fingers and two in the palm. Impresses me to this day.

The other was that I had to drive the milk truck standing. Not easy. Took me a while to get it down.

The clutch and brake were the same pedal. Down a certain distance, the clutch. Further, the brake. Both close. If I went down too far and inadvertently hit the brake, disaster could occur.

One time the suddenness of the braking caused the cases of milk behind me to rapidly pitch forward pinning me against the front window. Bottles flying out the open doors. The truck stopped on its own in a field down the road. Thank God for the field.

Milk flowing down the street. Broken glass all over.

In addition to the clutch/brake pedal, one had to shift with the right hand.

Those were the days. No school loans. Work. Worked your way through school while going to school.

Prepared for tonight’s blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Topics include the Washington scene, Russian protestors, James Bond in Key West, March Madness, $10 trillion missing from Pentagon, spinach leaf replacing heart tissue, and more.

Join me at 9 my time for a fast moving and revealing half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

My first stop last night the La Concha bar.

Then on to Books & Books for the Kay Redfield Jamison lecture re her latest work concerning the poet Robert Lowell. A review of his bipolar disorder.

Judy Blume did an excellent job in getting Jamison to come to Key West and putting the talk together. The crowd was huge. Twice the usual size.

After the lecture, hurried over to Donna and Terri’s for dinner. Donna an outstanding cook. Pot roast last night.

Terri’s adopted son and his lady friend with us. They are visiting for a week.

Adopted son threw me off. The adopted son is 35. White.

Terri explained that years ago when he was a small person, he would stand daily outside Radio City Music Hall. Trying to get in. Terri was performing. She was opening for Liza Minnelli.

After seeing him for several days, Terri confronted him and the rest is history. He now lives and works in New Haven.

Diana Millikan has a friend of consequence arriving today for a visit. Business and pleasure. Robert Labrousse is the Haitian Minister of Haitians Living Abroad.

Robert and Diana first met in Paris in 1966. Robert was a U.S. Army MP at the time. They renewed the acquaintance during the years Diana lived in Haiti.

Robert will be in Key West for three days. Socializing with Diana and meeting with local Haitians.

The athletic event of the year takes place saturday. For those in the best of shape. The Cow Key Bridge Zero K Run.

The bridge is 300 feet long. The distance of the run. More than 1,000 will participate. Most will walk. Most will be costume attired. The winner’s time will be around 40 seconds. The winner will have run.

Only in Key West!

Enjoy your day!

 

 

3 comments on “1950’s MILK MAN

  1. I’m thinking your milk truck was probably made by Divco. The ones I’ve seen and worked on were Chevrolet powered and had foot and hand throttle. It was a real experience learning to drive one.

  2. Louis, what I didn’t tell you about Robert but will now. He joined the US Army during VietNam bc the govt handed out US citizenship after a foreigner did 4 years of service. He did. Got the citizenship. Haitians wanted him to run for Haiti president in last year’s election after he did 5 years as Minister of Haitians Living Abroad, but Haiti rules do not allow a Haitian presidential candidate to have dual citizenship. He serves now as advisor to the new president. A trip to Havana for negotiations is in store in 2 weeks.

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