Discussion»Questions»Business» What jobs or businesses that you grew up with no longer exist? Which ones from today you don't see making it in the future?
It's usually those damn bar codes that will give me trouble. So it's always good to have someone there if they don't work. I really don't have to worry about it much anymore cuz my son does most of the shopping now.
That's true. No telephone operators. I didn't even ever thought about that. But so true. What happened to them? Cashier, great answer. The local Wal-Mart here have half of its cashing paying things automated. And if you go really late that's all there is!! That's scary actually.
Hi Lago, This one is a bit subtle...but the timber industry, as I grew up with it, has undergone such a huge change that in a way, you could say that in a way, it no longer exists.
There is nothing that can replace an old growth forest; second growth is something else altogether. So, in 1955 when I was just turning eleven, my parents moved from the birthplace of us all, to an area maybe 30 miles north because my father felt there would be enough old growth to finish raising his family.
And even now...when I go back to the communities where I was raised, they are still stricken, poverty, gone-to-seed.
* * * This is not quite what you were meaning with your question, I am guessing...but perhaps still apropos.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 11, 2017 7:41 PM MST
It's alright Ms Virginia. Although I have to admit that I don't know enough about that to give you an educated response.... You could expand on that of you like. I'd read it.
As briefly as I can...the old growth forests of the Pacific raincoast, all the way down into California, were so specifically adapted to the land and the climate that the wood was very tall, long- and tight-grained, very strong. The trees came through a "Little Ice Age," for example, and they were survivors, often very old. The quality of product from them was amazing. Second growth is more like agriculture; the wood is loose-grained, grew too fast, weak, cannot support the industry in any original sense.
Im trying to understand how you can sustain a logging industry, if you have to wait hundreds of years for trees to grow? I feel that you are right in what you are saying. I'll have to look into it deeper, Thank you for showing me about this, Ms Virginia.
Lago...it's actually quite fascinating, I studied this many years ago... Because to sustain the logging industry, and keep the forest healthy, is not hard. If you carry out a careful program that includes thinning, the forest actually becomes stronger.
On Vancouver Island (harsh weather, slow growing conditions) someone "logged" a patch of ground sustainably - and at the end of thirty years, he had taken off the board feet equivalent of ALL the standing timber, and he still had the full standing old growth forest there.
Logging when done well can actually benefit the forest. The problem is that people want money, LOTS, NOW! ...and then they leave the clearcut behind, going off to unspoiled paradise to live, us natives left to cope with the stripped land and the flooding plus other problems that result. I grew up on timber dollars, and looked into this...quite sorrowful story.
I will read up on this, I promise. Although I'm afraid this is one of those things that after reading, will probably make me sad and angry. I will probably go on some sort of tree hugging protest marathon . . . somewhere... I won't let your writing all this be for nothing. I will look into it. Thanks again Ms Virginia.
Businesses that have closed down: Woolworth's, Jahn's Ice Cream Parlors, Korvette's, Alexanders, Crazy Eddy Electronics. I'm sure there are more, but I can't think of them right now.
My grandma used to take there once in awhile. She'd shop while I looked at the animals. Then we would get grilled cheese and soup at the lunch counter.
Yeah Woolworth's( at least ones around here) had a pet section with fish, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, a few small reptiles. I used to go look at them and sometimes get lucky enough to be there when it was feeding time and the workers would let me pet one or feed them some pellets. Grandma would come get me when she was done. Let me pick out a small cheap toy or some candy then we would get lunch at the counter. It's one of my favorite childhood memories. I really, really miss her.
This going back before my time but I guess they used to sell a lot of reptile pets in the 50's and 60's. My Old-man and uncle got a pet alligator from there when they were kids.
I think I remember they had fish back there. . .in the back. I remember it took me a long time to realize that those fish floating on the surface were not asleep, like my mother said. I remember it smelled funny too...
I remember Woolworths had the first escalators I ever saw. .. I remember waiting till there was no one on the escalator, and I would run up the one coming down. . .
I know right? and then, if someone got on the escalator as I ran up going the wrong way, I would stop and turn around fast, and acted like nothing, so they couldn't tell what I was doing.
Woolworths, yes! I haven't seen one of those in years. I just remembered Radio Shack. I don't know if they closed nationally, but they certainly did here.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at March 12, 2017 7:42 AM MDT
They went into Chapter 11, closed many stores but not all and now they are seeking Chapter 11 protection again. There are a few stores still around, but not many.
SpunkySenior 