Catching Up With Courant Carriers
There were fewer than 500 Courant carriers in the late 1920s and by the 1970s, The Courant had more than 4,000 carriers crisscrossing Connecticut pulling wagons, pedaling bikes and tucking the newspaper inside the screen door.
When the newspaper expanded into broad town coverage, the carriers were critical to the Courant’s success. They walked great distances to reach their customers, up multiple steps of stairs in city apartment buildings and through snow drifts that might have daunted less adventurous types. Inside this section, the carriers tell their stories in their own words.
Finally, the Courant’s modern history – particularly its breakthrough into color and online – completes the section.
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This year, Courant carriers – paperboys and girls -- shared their memories with us on Facebook, in email, in typewritten and handwritten letters. We thought we'd share them with you – they made us laugh, smile and even cry.
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For years, it seemed like everyone wanted a paper route. There were long waiting lists and some carriers remember having to "buy" their routes from the previous carriers.
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In his words: Rick O'Day, Westborough, Mass.
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In her own words: Mary Hrubiec, Auburn, N.H.
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In his words: Frank J. Valvo, Marlborough
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In her own words:Nancy D'Onofrio Baccaro, Berlin
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In his own words: Vito Boccuzzio
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In his words: Raymond P. Greene, New Britain
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In his own words: Lucian Tercyak, Boston
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In his own words: Andy Baylock, Mansfield