NEWS: Simon SHOEMAKER Enjoys Retirement, 1918, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja 

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HAPPY IN RETIREMENT

Simon Shoemaker, poor director and retired milk man, and his estimable wife, 
who reside along the county road opposite Dell Delight park, are two of the 
happiest and most contented people on the face of the earth.  After years of 
toil, they have settled down to enjoy the rest of their days at their 
comfortable and attractive home, with not a care save one. Their youngest son 
is in the army service of Uncle Sam, but this does not detract much from 
their happiness, as they are doing their duty to their country, through him.  
Simon Shoemaker was one of the most successful and popular milk men that ever 
carried on business.  For forty years through the snows of winter and heat of 
summer, his cheery voice and clanging bell, were heard daily in the old town, 
as he never missed a morning covering his route, no matter what the weather 
and he never was sick a day, on account of his robust condition.  He was so 
[p]unctual that some persons depended on the sound of his bell as they would 
a clock, and every family he visited was glad to see him come, as his every 
cheerful manner was a sure cure for the blues, even on Blue Monday.  He 
always had a cheery word for everyone and was a human newspaper, as he knew 
the latest happenings and took a pleasure in divulging them to his customers.  
It was indeed a pleasure to see him drive up to the house, with his spick and 
span team of horses, neatly-painted wagon, and highly polished boots, that he 
always wore.  In those days the customers came out with a pitcher or other 
vessel, and the milk was poured from large cans bright and clean as a silver 
dollar.  And it surely was milk; the true lacteal fluid, never blue and 
watery, but rich and pure, turning a cup of blackest coffee to a rich amber 
color.  Simon has a heart as big almost as himself, taking a delight in 
entertaining his friends.  Many a poor family he furnished with milk without 
a cent of pay, and was not a close collector, as his books show.  But he was 
successful financially as well as every other way and is now enjoying the 
fruits of a life well spent.

Altoona Tribune, Saturday, August 24, 1918, page 3