ENTREPRENEURS IN LAGO COLONY
Many woman ran businesses in Lago Colony. These businesses were run from their homes and most were very successful. These are a few that come to mind.
DANISH SILVER AND PORCELAIN
Karn Gragerson sold Royal Copenhagen and B & G porcelain as well as George Jensen silver. She ordered the goods from Denmark and, as she was friends with the captains of the two Esso Tankers, The Esso Nyberg and the Esso Copenhagen, that ran regularly between Aruba and Denmark, the goods she ordered were brought out on the tankers.
NEWSPAPERS
Mrs. Ballard sold the Miami Harold and New York Times and these were delivered to homes each day for those who had subscriptions with Mrs. Ballard . She picked up the papers at the airport every day and then she hired high school boys, on their bikes, to deliver the papers after school. I had a paper rout for about a year and a half and I remember it being very well paid. It was probably the best job a high school boy could get in the Colony.
MAGAZINES
Mrs. Wade sold magazines. She had a magazine stand at the Post Office (LINK TO POST OFFICE) and later she rented space at the Old and New Esso Club and sold the magazines from there. She also delivered the magazines to the door for those who had subscriptions.
PAN ARUBAN
A weekly newsletter privately produced by Bob & Darlene Schlageter and delivered on Saturday mornings by boys on bikes. The publication giving local, US and worldwide news and sports as well as the Esso Club movie schedules, special events, activity schedules, articles of local interest and carried advertising from local shops and businesses.
CAR BATTERIES
Mr. Pomaroy had a car battery business and sold as well as charged car batteries. If your battery was dead he would come to the house and take you battery and charge it. He also replaced cells in the battery as needed. This was in the days when car batteries were made such that the tar between the cells could be melted out, the bad cell removed and a new cell installed and tar placed around the new cell. Even is all three cells were bad the case was reused. He was a shift worker so he could do this in the daytime.
FLORIST
Mrs. Huising had a florist business and sold flowers. She sold flowers for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions. She did all the corsages for the junior and senior prom.
PIANO TEACHERS
Many woman & men taught piano.
DANCE TEACHERS
Maude A. Welch was a dance teacher and taught ballet to ballroom dancing at her home in Lago Colony.
FLYING INSTRUCTORS
Many of the employees who were members of the Aruba Flying Club taught others to fly.