Delivering newspapers as a youth brings back an assortment of memories for most “paperboys” from the past. Whether it was dodging raindrops or barking dogs, the papers had to be delivered no matter rain, snow, sleet or hail. Memories of a different sort can probably still be remembered by a select few paperboys right after World War II. These “newsies” actually made news and took part in their own “doughboy” experience.

Fifteen carrier boys for the Union Sun & Journal were chosen to take part in a special “papers via airplane” event. The “air-paper” plan was actually designed to help promote the fledgling Van DeMark Flying Service located on Lincoln Avenue in Lockport. The circulation manager of the Union Sun, W. Faber Roberts, had cooked up a promotion with Lt. Allan W. Van De Mark, pilot of the “Doughboy,” a Ryan monoplane, the same model that made Col. Charles Lindbergh famous.

The plan called for the fifteen newsboys to receive their daily allotment of newspapers by airplane. The lads were instructed to place a large white bed sheet on the ground in a field or lawn near their homes and Lt. Van De Mark would make a scathe-run and attempt to drop a bundle of papers onto each boy’s respective sheet.

In an official announcement, the Union Sun noted, “aviation is fast becoming commonplace and is becoming commercially practicable because of speed and safety. The Union Sun is taking this means of demonstrating the possibilities of airplane delivery not only to the communities to be thus served but to the carrier boys themselves in a still more graphic way.”

In further demonstration of the safety and practicality of post WWII air travel, Lt. Van DeMark followed his dramatic demonstration of air-delivery by taking each of the 15 paperboys for a ride in the sky, too. We can only assume that the trips were after the boys delivered their papers.

Douglas Farley, Director
Erie Canal Discover Center
24 Church St.
Lockport NY 14094
716.439.0431
CanalDiscovery@aol.com
www.NiagaraHistory.org