Yellow Cab — once called Newton City Cab and later Suburban Cab — will be providing its last rides today, the TAB’s Laura Lovett reports.
Then in 1977 [Richard Johnston] decided to buy the company. …At one point he had 25 cabs with 16 drivers working during the day and 10 at night. By the end that number had dwindled to three or four drivers working during the day and three at night.
“We all got old together. Some of the drivers just aged out, some are sick or can’t drive for one reason or another. Nobody wants to do this kind of work,” said Johnston.
I’m always sorry to hear of jobs lost but they were a bad neighbor to West Newton. I walk past there often to get to Paddy’s, West Newton Square, etc. In the decade I’ve lived here, they never EVER cleared their sidewalk of snow and they even used to block the sidewalk with snow. Feral cats lived in their broken down cabs that have been there for as long as I’ve lived here. I imagine the whole lot will need to be razed because their building has a dirt floor so I can’t imagine it is up to any code.
I have to agree. When I would run by there, I always had to run into the street because their sidewalk was always covered with debris.
Being driver 528 in the 1970’s, the operation was on Dunstan St. I paid attention gaining knowledge of street location and flat rate express. The company became part of a broader sub culture, going beyond mere transportation, Dick lead the Blackrock Eagle Jazz band, a linking to the roots of the city. – many alumni still alive and pushing 70-90 years of age.