| Title | “Carnie” |
| Employer | Winchester Amusement Co. |
| Start | July 21, 1996 |
| End | August 1996 |
| Address | 145 Lambden Avenue Winchester, Virginia 22601 United States of America |
| Supervisor | Billy Carter |
| Hours per week | ~50 |
| Pay | $175/week (~$3.50/hour) |
| Reason for leaving | Didn’t like the pay |
Before I was officially employed, I worked with the company as they set up and operated the fairgrounds in my town. The fair opened up to the public on July 22nd-27th. It was the sixth year Winchester Amusement had set up in Fort Ashby, with more than 20 rides. It was $6 a night to get into the fairgrounds, opening at 6 pm (5 pm Saturday), so I was issued an employee pass. I then took off with them afterwards, living in the back of their facilities in Winchester, VA. I was close enough to walk to Apple Blossom Mall from the lot.
July 22, 1996
The Fort Ashby fair was a member of the West Virginia Agriculture Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals.
Worked on assembling/disassembling the Yo-Yo swings and the Cobra. Assisted other operators in assembling and tearing down rides, food & gaming booths. Operated children’s rides during the week, such as little boats that went around in a circle. At the end of each week, Saturday night through Sunday morning was spent dismantling and reassembling rides for the following location. Some places required an elevator inspector to inspect the rides. Locations in parking lots were the easiest to set up.
A photo of me assembling the Yo-Yo swings in Fort Ashby appeared in a local paper. A few of the staff made a big deal about it when they showed it to me the day it came out. You could see the Cobra ride in the back to the right.
I handled the assembly and disassembly of a variety of amusement rides, including the Cobra, Yo-Yo swings, and children’s attractions. I also operated children’s rides during the week. Moreover, I assisted with ride inspections and helped set up and dismantle concession stands and prize booths. The disassembly of rides commenced late Saturday night and continued until Sunday afternoon, with a brief rest period during travel to the following location for assembly.
Wages were paid weekly. Based on the hours I worked, I was earning less than the minimum wage. I was living in a tent on the employer’s lot to avoid being charged for accommodations inside. One of the nice things was that I was within walking distance of the Apple Blossom Mall.
