Excelsior Laundry: Difference between revisions
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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 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 Covington, Kentucky native [[George Blinn | 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 | They moved it to leased space at 1807 [[2nd Avenue North]] in [[1891]]. In [[1902]] they acquired ownership of that building and the adjoining property at 1805 2nd Avenue. They remodeled the facade and rechristened it as the [[Excelsior Laundry Building]] | ||
In [[1905]] George Blinn | 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 | The Excelsior Laundry Building was demolished for expansion of the [[New Ideal]] department store before [[1942]]. | ||
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Revision as of 11:12, 16 May 2019
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 1807 2nd Avenue North in 1891. In 1902 they acquired ownership of that building and the adjoining property at 1805 2nd Avenue. They remodeled the facade and rechristened it as the Excelsior Laundry Building
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 for expansion of the New Ideal department store before 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