Every parent has used the “Back when I was your age” phrase on their children. The aphorism has undoubtably been used to elicit sympathy, reverence, or humor. Often, the individual using those words is either exaggerating or misremembering the facts being presented as evidence of the superiority of the older generation.
Since it’s that time of year when some of our youth are applying for their first summer jobs, we thought it might be interesting to see how the seasonal job landscape has shifted over the decades.
My own summer employment history through high school and college was an eclectic assortment of jobs to say the least. It’s easy to tell which ones were my choices and which were thrust upon me by my parents.
I worked serving ice cream at Bryan’s Dairy, slicing chipped ham at “Big” Howards, pumping gas at Greenwood’s Service Station, managing young workers for the county CETA program, and as a laborer for Equitable Gas pipelines and at the Mather plant for Atlas Railroad. My father insisted on the latter two jobs because he thought they would help remind me to concentrate on my studies in college. I guess it was a solid (though unsuccessful) theory.
Summer jobs have long been a rite of passage for young people in rural areas. These jobs not only provided financial support but also instilled a sense of responsibility and community engagement. The history of summer jobs in rural areas is deeply intertwined with agricultural cycles, economic necessity, and social changes.
Summer work in our area originated from our agrarian economy that once dominated. Rural life revolved around agriculture, and entire families were involved in seasonal labor. During the summer, when planting, cultivating, and harvesting required many hands, teenagers played essential roles. There was no clear distinction between work and daily life.
The early 20th century saw significant changes in rural labor dynamics. Mechanization began reducing the demand for manual labor. At the same time, growing awareness of child labor abuses in urban factories led to the implementation of child labor laws. While these regulations were primarily aimed at industrial settings, they gradually extended to rural work as well.
However, exceptions were often made for farm work. The Fair Labor Act of 1938 restricted child labor in industry but allowed minors as young as 12 to work on farms with parental consent. This leniency preserved the tradition of rural summer jobs for youth, reinforcing the notion that such work was beneficial for character development.
The Great Depression created widespread economic hardship in rural areas. Families relied heavily on all members, including children, to contribute financially. Summer jobs were a survival mechanism, with teenagers often working on larger farms, in local stores, or doing odd jobs around their towns.
During World War II, labor shortages across the U.S. drew more young people into the workforce. Many young men left to fight, creating a gap in labor. Summer work became not just a financial necessity but a patriotic duty.
After the war, economic prosperity and educational reforms transformed the landscape of rural summer jobs. With increased school enrollment and the rise of suburban culture, fewer teenagers were needed year-round on family farms. However, the summer remained a prime time for temporary employment.
In the 1950s, summer jobs for non-farming young people were still largely paper routes, lawn mowing, and odd jobs. For those old enough to remember Leave It to Beaver, I recall the episode where Wally was buying a car. He had saved $180 through his mowing and odd jobs, but the car he sought was an astronomical $220. Ultimately, Ward talked some sense into him and financial sanity was restored.
Beaver Cleaver on the other hand had his trusty paper route. In one notable episode, Beaver struggled to manage the responsibilities of his new job. He had trouble waking up early, dealing with customer complaints, and eventually got fired, which became a life lesson in accountability.
While the entrepreneurial spirit of mowing lawns continues to be a central foundation of summer employment for young people, other traditional jobs would be anachronistic today. All my friends who lived in town had paper routes. The payment was miniscule for the dedication and stamina the job took, but my buddies still talk of those days with pride.
The thought of any parent today letting their 12-year-old get up at 4:30 a.m. to deliver newspapers around the neighborhood for an hour in darkness, rain or freezing temperatures strains credulity on so many levels. However, the “job” no teenager today could even fathom was collecting old pop bottles for two cents each (the big Canada Dry bottles were a nickle) and lugging them to collection sites for the big payout.
The 60s and 70s saw the rise of more structured summer job programs. Governments and local organizations began to create formal employment opportunities for rural youth, often linked to public works and conservation efforts.
Many rural teens also took jobs at summer camps, local fairs, or small businesses such as diners and gas stations.
Retired WCHS teacher Mark McCurdy recalls one of his summer jobs during this time. He was a “pin setter” at the six-lane bowling alley in the bottom of the Long Building on High Street (across from the police station). “It wasn’t too bad dodging the balls during the afternoon. However, when the leagues came in at night, it got pretty crazy and a little dangerous”, he said with a chuckle. “My pay was getting to play unlimited free pool, which was a dime a game back then”
These jobs were often seen as stepping stones toward greater independence, helping young people save for college or their first vehicle.
Other businesses who provided summer job opportunities in Waynesburg were grocery stores such as Big and Little Howard’s, Tracy’s Market, A&P, Foodland, and Acme. In addition, eateries such as the Chicken House, Waynesburg Restaurant, the Pancake House, the two Dari Delights, and several pizza parlors offered opportunities to work in the service industry.
When the national chains finally arrived, options expanded. McDonald’s provided jobs for young people after it opened in late 1973. My sister’s first job was at the fancy new department store in town- Fisher’s Big Wheel.
Service stations actually required people to provide services. Young men would pump gas, clean wind shields, and check oil for customers. Something that would seem incredibly bizarre to today’s young people.
One of the major areas of summer employment that has stayed relatively the same for the past 75 years is working at our public pools. Lifeguards and concession workers have remained an iconic representation of summer employees in many small towns across the country.
Generations of our county lifeguards are a band of brothers and sisters bound by the knowledge they served under Betty Walker, the legendary maven of the county pools. Her charges speak of her in the same communal tones of reverence that Rudy Marisa’s basketball players assign to their mentor.
Another retired teacher, Vicki Snyder remembers her days as a lifeguard fondly. “Betty was an honest and hard-nosed boss. She made us stay focused for the safety of the children. During breaks, she would make us pick clover to minimize the bee stings. After a seven-hour shift and two hours of teaching swimming lessons, we still had to sanitize the locker rooms. Betty taught us discipline, but she had a soft side too. Our staff became like family every summer.”
By the 21st century, several factors contributed to the decline of traditional rural summer jobs. Continued mechanization reduced the need for many seasonal jobs. Simultaneously, rising educational expectations, extracurricular commitments, and concerns about youth safety and liability led to fewer work opportunities.
In recent years, wage increases, spurred by larger national and regional corporations, have put pressure on local businesses and county government to keep up. At present, the sustainability of those dynamics seems tenuous at best.
This trend reflects broader shifts in our society, economy, and culture. From haylofts to cafes and computers, these jobs have evolved while continuing to serve as important formative experiences for young people. While the nature of summer work has changed, its role in fostering independence and responsibility remains vital.
