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ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown Steam Laundry
2 E Main
Three-story bldg [Masonic Temple, third floor] was built on this site in 1906 [2-6 E Main]
1876
08 23 WATERTOWN
BOASTS A LAUNDRY
It may not
be generally known to those sad and lonely young men who farm out their washing
that Watertown boasts of a laundry [either Watertown Steam Laundry, 2 E
Main or New Method Laundry, 218 S First].
But such
is the fact, so we are informed, and several women are employed therein,
washing, ironing—and other work. Last
Sunday while the proprietress of this establishment was out riding
she was thrown from a carriage and very seriously hurt. She was picked up for dead and although
injured every badly, she is now in a fair way of
recovery. WR
1890
01 17 CLEANED LAUNDRY NEED NOT BE DISINFECTED
The Watertown Steam Laundry, east end
of Main Street bridge, operated by Otto J. Walter & Co., is turning out
first-class work, equal to that turned out anywhere, and you can depend upon
it, that work given to them passes through clean hands and does not need a
disinfectant after leaving the place to make it proof against imparting
disease. It is an institution that is
neatly conducted, and work is turned out promptly and in a satisfactory manner. It gives employment to quite a few of our
people, and therefore it deserves the patronage of every citizen. WR
c1892
2 E Main St, c1893 WHS_005_985
“O’Hara Bros.” signage in window
1892-93 and 1893 Watertown City Directories list Theodore and William O’Hara, O’Hara Bros., as propr’s, and both res 2 Main St.
The 1892-93 directory also has an ad for the steam laundry and lists “H. Kotten, Prop.” and the address of “100 Main Street, East of Bridge.” Not sure how this fits in
1894
OPERATED BY CHARLES SEYMOUR (C.
S.) JOHNSON, b. 1865, d. 1939
Grandson of Timothy Johnson
1895
OPERATED BY CHARLES SEYMOUR (C. S.) JOHNSON, b. 1865, d. 1939
Grandson of Timothy Johnson
C. S.
Johnson, 73, Grandson of City Founder, Is Dead.
5/12/39 <> Charles Seymour Johnson, 72,
grandson of Watertown's first settler, Timothy Johnson, is dead in Milwaukee. His home was at 1424 S. 74th Street. He was a brother of Miss Adelaide M. Johnson
and Frank R. Johnson, Milwaukee. Funeral
services will be held in Milwaukee Saturday afternoon and the body will be
brought to Watertown for interment in Oak Hill Cemetery. The funeral cortege is expected to arrive at
the cemetery at 3:15 o'clock. Mr.
Johnson lived in Watertown for years and once operated a laundry on the site of
what is now the Masonic Temple. Mr.
Johnson was among the descendants of Timothy Johnson who attended the
observance of the Watertown Centennial in 1936.
CROSS
REFERENCE NOTE:
1895
<> Watertown Steam Laundry, C.S. Johnson, prop., 2 Main / 1895 Watertown
City Directory
1897
2 E Main St, Rice & Campbell, props
/ John H Rice & Frank J
Campbell
1898
Watertown Steam Laundry, 2 E Main,
(right of Main St Bridge) WHS_005_601
1900
01 09 ADDITION TO OPERATION
Rice and Campbell, proprietors of the Watertown
Steam laundry, have just added to their outfit a compound high-board
combination ironer, an improved machine manufactured by Nelson & Kreuter,
of Chicago. This will greatly facilitate
their work and show they are keeping up with the times. WR
02 20 MOVE FROM 2 E. MAIN TO 218 S. FIRST ST
Rice & Campbell, the enterprising
proprietors of the Watertown Steam Laundry, have leased the
building on First Street (*) now occupied by William Ames pump shop and
will remove their plant as soon as the new quarters can be made ready. The building will be remodeled, an addition
erected that will materially increase the accommodations, and every necessary
convenience provided. The proprietors
also intend purchasing a lot of new machinery, and taken altogether, the
contemplated improvements will provide one of the most complete and up-to-date
laundry plants in the state. An uptown
office will be maintained in the present location, No. 2 Main Street, for the
accommodation of patrons. Since locating
here, Messrs. Rice & Campbell have made a success of their undertaking, and
their friends are pleased to know that their prosperity is so substantial that
they find it necessary to branch out and secure larger quarters. They are progressive and popular young
business men and well deserve to succeed.
(*) 218 S. First Street, 1899-1900 City
Directory
05 01 A COMPLETE ESTABLISHMENT
Messrs. Rice & Campbell, the enterprising
proprietors of the Watertown Steam Laundry, can now boast of having as neat and
complete an establishment of the sort as is operated in the interior of the
state. They have during the past week
become nicely settled in their new quarters —-the old Ames building on First
Street — and an inspection of their plant is sufficient evidence of their claim
to conducting a laundry on the most approved and up-to-date lines.
The establishment is divided into four
parts — the office, the ironing, finishing and sorting room, the washing and
drying rooms, and the boiler and fuel room. A twenty-five-horsepower boiler
provides steam for the engine, for the drying room and for the heating
apparatus, while an eight horse-power engine furnishes motive power for the
machinery.
Included in the machinery operated are
two large washing machines and an extractor, or wringer, all built after the
latest models. After the linen has gone
through these contrivances, it is placed on racks in the drying room, where the
intense heat does the necessary work in less than an hour. Then the starchers are brought into service,
whereupon the linen is ready for the ironing room. Gas, combined with compressed air, is used
for heating the irons, rollers, etc.
These machines are perfect in construction and render a high finish to
the work, at the same time greatly simplifying the old manner of handling
laundry.
The plant is also provided with minor machines necessary to skillful workmanship and is in every way prepared for the turning out of large quantities of laundry in a short space of time. Messrs. Rice & Campbell are indeed nicely situated and their continued success seems assured. Their enterprise is a credit to the city.
1902
04 12 WATERTOWN STEAM LAUNDRY SOLD
The Watertown Steam laundry, owned by Shepherd & Campbell has been sold. C. J. Sprague, of Waukesha, is the purchaser and he took possession last Monday. Mr. Plummer of Janesville will be manager of the plant. Mr. Campbell has been in the business here for five years. Neither of the gentlemen have decided where they will make their home. WR
05 31 WATERTOWN STEAM LAUNDRY SOLD
WRep
1905 MASONIC TEMPLE
The Masonic Temple was built on the Main Street site in 1906 and was dedicated 06 01 1906
History of Watertown, Wisconsin