First off, I am not sure of the spelling of my title word; Bivouac. I didn't know what it was back then in 1943 and I don't know now. O.K. Spelling used to be one of my strong points but maybe not now. I was being educated and subjected to all forms of exercise. It was in one of the great schools and one of the most beautiful sites in America and I was there courtesy of Uncle Sam. I was a Naval Cadet at Chapel Hill N.C. Part of the exercise program was to rise at 6:00 A.M., dash to the exercise field, grunt and groan for an hour and at 7:30, dash to the breakfast building hurry to an 8:00 class. My education included, Navigation, Stars and Constellations, Math and Recognition (planes and ships) and the Morse code. I still remember SOS. All of this is just an introduction to what I want to tell you about.
For some unknown reason I was told I had been chosen, along with 49 other Cadets to go on the above. And the time arrived and the 50 of us were boarded into busses and were driven about 30 miles from the school. We unloaded and each of us was given a compass and told we were to head 120 degrees East and there we would find our main camp where food and sleeping bags would be given us. We all started by pairing up with a buddy and then beginning our trek to the camp. You can imagine it is now about 5:30 and hunger pangs have already set in. Adding to our discomfort, it begins to rain; not a downpour but a steady light rain and it wasn't long before we were very wet. Most of this was from fording creeks and tall, wet grasses. Oh yes, the temperature had also plummeted to about 38 degrees. It took about 2 hours of this adventure and we arrived, staggered might be a better word, into camp. I can't speak for the other men, but I was wet and tired. Food was not that important. I got my sleeping bag, dropped my wet clothing on the ground and crawled into the bag. After shivering for at least an hour, I finally fell asleep and awoke to a grey dawn and found my clothes had all frozen during the night. Forcing my legs into my pants, ice chips falling to the ground, my clothing gradually began to thaw. Of course there was no hot water to either wash or shave but we did what we could to become somewhat presentable, finished eating and were now off on another hike although by this time the temperature was beginning to get into the 40s, and life was almost liveable. As we hiked we were showed roots that were edible, mushrooms that weren't, along with ways we might be able to sustain life if that ever were to be necessary, The days were quite nice but the next 3 nights were miserable. It was darned cold for the Carolinas and our leaders kept telling us that. Sure! I had paired up with a fellow who was about 6'2 and at night he and I would take turns throwing our legs over the other to try to stay warm. Yes, we were in separate sleeping bags. That's about the end of my story except after a day following our return (in the same busses) we, who had remained alive were told we could have a 30 day leave to go home for Christmas. See, the Navy has a heart after all and I spent those 30 days with Louise and then Louise and oh yes, my parents. It was a great reward for my misery. I think I'd do it again if the reward was the same.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
A Buyer of Boyswear
Many, many years ago I had been talked into leaving the University of Buffalo and was immediately signed as an assistant in the Menswear department--but that's a story already told and is no longer news to any except new readers and they will have to suffer for missing my ramblings of the past. However, maybe they can catch a glimpse of my retail past by reading what follows.While busy in the men's department I received a call to go and see Craig Larkin, then the Merchandise Manager of the 3rd floor; made up mostly of Infants clothing, some young women's wear and the Boys Department. I wondered what he wanted? Anyway being a dutiful young man, who was also curious, I hurried to his office and was asked to sit down. He then proceeded to tell me he would like to employ me as the Buyer of the Boys department? This was quite a surprise. I had only served in the Men's operation for 6 months and was still learning that area. However, this offer included a $10.00 raise to the munificent sum total of $55.00--WOW!! How could I resist? So on the morning of June 2nd of 1947 I entered the Department early and greeted each of the employees as they arrived. I introduced myself and as they all gathered, I went on to have a meeting. I don't remember what I said except I was well received as the previous buyer, Mr J, turned out to have a problem with strong spirits and was often absent, causing an ongoing concern for the others who were trying to run things.
And so my retailing really began! I bought not only the normal things which I had previously become accustomed to, with the exception that the customers were all much smaller. This would be my first experience buying suits for Boys sizes went up to size 20 which in Men's sizing was a size 39. I could wear a 39 in those days --a lot has changed since then, and my wardrobe improved substantially at Boys prices, plus a special price from the manufacturers who were trying to stay in my good graces.
I think my first suit cost me $18.00 and I remember it as a brown plaid which I thought was quite handsome. There were other items I could purchase such as sox, ties, shirts and so on and my prices were all substantially less than I had been paying in the Men's department. At $28,00 annually, things were looking up. At 24 I was the youngest buyer in the store and here I must brag a bit. From a close friend, Walter, who was the assistant to the stores president, Albin Holder, and who was in a position to know and called me into his office one day and congratulated me on being # 1 in all of Associated stores. Our store, JN Adams, was 1 of about 11 other retail department stores scattered across the U.S. and I had completed my first full year buying for the Boys Department and this was quite exciting to know I had managed to top the other Boyswear Buyers in our parent organization. I went on for 4 more years and then was given the job of buying the Men's department and my salary over the years was now $9,000 annually and while that was much more than my first job at $45.00 a week and although I never reached the salary that I should have had, I had, in affect, risen through the ranks and I didn't argue the point. I had achieved a reputation of having the best Menswear operation in the city. The challenges of buying any department are many and I was successful in each that I had been responsible for. The store closed in January 1959. I had been working there for 13 years and starting from a part time employee I was now ready to take a new job and continue in the retail business. I had loved my jobs there and new opportunities were opening up and I was ready!! Subsequently, I interviewed at several major stores across the country including Lord and Taylor, Stewarts of Baltimore and other stores in Cleveland, Rochester, Omaha and was offered a job in all of the above. I was a retail buyer and proud of my name and reputation in the menswear industry.
And so my retailing really began! I bought not only the normal things which I had previously become accustomed to, with the exception that the customers were all much smaller. This would be my first experience buying suits for Boys sizes went up to size 20 which in Men's sizing was a size 39. I could wear a 39 in those days --a lot has changed since then, and my wardrobe improved substantially at Boys prices, plus a special price from the manufacturers who were trying to stay in my good graces.
I think my first suit cost me $18.00 and I remember it as a brown plaid which I thought was quite handsome. There were other items I could purchase such as sox, ties, shirts and so on and my prices were all substantially less than I had been paying in the Men's department. At $28,00 annually, things were looking up. At 24 I was the youngest buyer in the store and here I must brag a bit. From a close friend, Walter, who was the assistant to the stores president, Albin Holder, and who was in a position to know and called me into his office one day and congratulated me on being # 1 in all of Associated stores. Our store, JN Adams, was 1 of about 11 other retail department stores scattered across the U.S. and I had completed my first full year buying for the Boys Department and this was quite exciting to know I had managed to top the other Boyswear Buyers in our parent organization. I went on for 4 more years and then was given the job of buying the Men's department and my salary over the years was now $9,000 annually and while that was much more than my first job at $45.00 a week and although I never reached the salary that I should have had, I had, in affect, risen through the ranks and I didn't argue the point. I had achieved a reputation of having the best Menswear operation in the city. The challenges of buying any department are many and I was successful in each that I had been responsible for. The store closed in January 1959. I had been working there for 13 years and starting from a part time employee I was now ready to take a new job and continue in the retail business. I had loved my jobs there and new opportunities were opening up and I was ready!! Subsequently, I interviewed at several major stores across the country including Lord and Taylor, Stewarts of Baltimore and other stores in Cleveland, Rochester, Omaha and was offered a job in all of the above. I was a retail buyer and proud of my name and reputation in the menswear industry.
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