T H E E A R LY DAY S • 17 GAS FOR 10 CENTS A GALLON After several years, even in Depression times, Harold’s business grew. During this time, Jerry was born. By the way, that’s me. When my mother went into labor, my father was at a meeting in New York. Now you aren’t going to believe this, because it would never happen today: The doctor actually picked my mother up at her house, took her to the hospital, and delivered me. As you can see, my dad traveled a lot. He had to cover the entire New England Territory for Tootsie Roll. He was usually around on the weekends and as I grew I would help him clean out the samples from the car from his week on the road. On Saturday mornings, sometimes, we’d go into Boston to see customers. After working for a few hours, my dad would take me to lunch at Hayes Bickford which was a diner. The food was good and being with my dad was great. One day he took me to the Terrace Room at the Statler hotel across the street. The prices were much more expensive. I asked my dad why? He said, “See these lights, silverware, chandeliers and the fancy waitresses, someone has to pay for it.” When World War II started my dad was 36 and too old to serve in the military. He wanted to do his patriotic duty and volunteered as an auxiliary policeman and as an air raid warden.