Raymond Pierce
- Nov 14, 2021
- 2 min read

Raymond Pierce’s The Evening Times Globe - PART TWO

Updated: May 25, 2023

Ben Hur and the Snow Storm of 1959!

(Part 2 of a 4 part series)

On a stormy January day in 1959 Saint John New Brunswick was getting the worst weather anyone could imagine. Freezing rain fell first, making the roads and streets icy and slippery. Then heavy snow fell on top of that for hours making the situation worse.

We paper boys were undeterred by the elements.

We arrived at Humphrey’s Convenience Store on time to pick up our papers. About fifteen of us were lined up outside the store waiting for the delivery truck from The Evening Times Globe to arrive. The truck was late.

Finally, Marcella Humphry, the proprietor came out to tell us she had just received a call from the driver, the truck was stuck in an icy area at the bottom of the hill below Fort Howe where Main St. and Metcalf St. intersect.

I don’t remember who suggested it, but we all volunteered to go get the papers off the stuck delivery truck. So we headed for Metcalf St. with our sleds and toboggans and that youthful energy that comes when a group of kids band together on an important mission.

We found the delivery truck, as expected, stuck at the base of Fort Howe on Metcalf St. The driver was happy to see us. He helped us load our sleds and toboggans with bundles of newspapers containing 50 papers each.

Four or five bundles of newspapers were very heavy, but we all worked together and those who didn’t have sleds or toboggans helped push the ones who did, and prevented the bundles from falling off as we made our way back in the storm to Humphry’s store.

The first to arrive with bales of papers received their papers right away and headed out to begin their deliveries.

Our actions didn’t go unnoticed by the Evening Times Globe Company because a few weeks later we all received letters from the newspaper thanking us for a job well done, and going above and beyond the call of duty. And the letter included free tickets to the recently released film epic, “BEN HUR” What an unexpected treat that was!

I can still recall the aroma and taste of buttered popcorn as we entered the Capitol Theater at King Square. The movie was fantastic. I was fascinated to see Roman soldiers standing guard and marching in formation. The chariot race was the most exciting part. The movie score was so wonderful I bought the long-playing album and played it often.