Excelsior Laundry: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
The '''Excelsior Steam Laundry''' was a prominent clothes and linen cleaning service in [[downtown Birmingham]] from the 1880s to at least the 1920s. | The '''Excelsior Steam Laundry''' was a prominent clothes and linen cleaning service in [[downtown Birmingham]] from the 1880s to at least the 1920s. | ||
The business was founded by former [[Birmingham Steam Laundry]] manager in [[J. H. Lee]] around [[1885]] in the [[Wright's Building]] at 308 [[19th Street North]]. During the [[1886]] [[Mardi Gras 1886|Mardi Gras parade]], the Excelsior Steam Laundry entered a float parodying the Birmingham Steam Laundry's entry which featured a large reclining figure "fanning away opposition." | The business was founded by former [[Birmingham Steam Laundry]] manager in [[J. H. Lee]] around [[1885]] in the [[Wright's Building]] adjoining the [[Birmingham Post Office]] at 308-310 [[19th Street North]]. During the [[1886]] [[Mardi Gras 1886|Mardi Gras parade]], the Excelsior Steam Laundry entered a float parodying the Birmingham Steam Laundry's entry which featured a large reclining figure "fanning away opposition." | ||
The laundry was purchased that same year by [[George Blinn, Sr]], who, along with his son, [[George Blinn, Jr|George Jr]] moved it to leased space at 1805 [[2nd Avenue North]] in [[1891]]. In [[1902]] they acquired ownership of that building and adjoining property and erected a new [[Excelsior Laundry Building]] at 1805-7 2nd Avenue. | The laundry was purchased that same year by Covington, Kentucky native [[George Blinn, Sr]], who, along with his son, [[George Blinn, Jr|George Jr]] reincorporated the business on [[February 25]], [[1887]]. | ||
They moved it to leased space at 1805 [[2nd Avenue North]] in [[1891]]. In [[1902]] they acquired ownership of that building and adjoining property and erected a new [[Excelsior Laundry Building]] at 1805-7 2nd Avenue. | |||
In [[1905]] George Blinn, Jr invited his brother-in-law, [[James Donnelly]], a former manager at Proctor & Gamble who had retired at age 43, to come to [[Birmingham]] and join him in the laundry and other business enterprises. | In [[1905]] George Blinn, Jr invited his brother-in-law, [[James Donnelly]], a former manager at Proctor & Gamble who had retired at age 43, to come to [[Birmingham]] and join him in the laundry and other business enterprises. | ||
The Excelsior Laundry Building was demolished prior to construction of the [[New Ideal Building]] in [[1942]]. | The Excelsior Laundry Building was demolished prior to construction of the [[New Ideal Building]] in [[1942]]. | ||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{CD-1884}} | * {{CD-1884}} | ||
* {{Northern Alabama-1888}} | |||
* {{Davis-1909}} | * {{Davis-1909}} | ||
* {{Cruikshank-1920}} | * {{Cruikshank-1920}} | ||
Revision as of 16:04, 2 July 2015
The Excelsior Steam Laundry was a prominent clothes and linen cleaning service in downtown Birmingham from the 1880s to at least the 1920s.
The business was founded by former Birmingham Steam Laundry manager in J. H. Lee around 1885 in the Wright's Building adjoining the Birmingham Post Office at 308-310 19th Street North. During the 1886 Mardi Gras parade, the Excelsior Steam Laundry entered a float parodying the Birmingham Steam Laundry's entry which featured a large reclining figure "fanning away opposition."
The laundry was purchased that same year by Covington, Kentucky native George Blinn, Sr, who, along with his son, George Jr reincorporated the business on February 25, 1887.
They moved it to leased space at 1805 2nd Avenue North in 1891. In 1902 they acquired ownership of that building and adjoining property and erected a new Excelsior Laundry Building at 1805-7 2nd Avenue.
In 1905 George Blinn, Jr invited his brother-in-law, James Donnelly, a former manager at Proctor & Gamble who had retired at age 43, to come to Birmingham and join him in the laundry and other business enterprises.
The Excelsior Laundry Building was demolished prior to construction of the New Ideal Building in 1942.
References
- City Directory of Birmingham and Gazetteer of Surrounding Section for 1884-5 (1884) Volume II. Atlanta, Georgia: Interstate Directory Company
- North Alabama (Illustrated) (1888) Birmingham: Southern Commercial Publishing Co.
- The Shoppers' Guide of Greater Birmingham, The Trade Center of Alabama (1909) Birmingham: Davis Advertising & Sales Co.
- Cruikshank, George H. (1920) History of Birmingham and Its Environs: A Narrative Account of Their Historical Progress, Their People, and Their Principal Interests 2 volumes. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- Dabney, Richard (2006) Birmingham's Highland Park. Images of America Series. Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Press. ISBN 9780738543437