The White Star Steam Laundry, and later Star Steam Laundry, formerly sat in a brick, two story building at 812 5th Street. It was open as early as 1886 and was owned by at least 10 men in 35 years. It moved next door to the Bonham Hotel basement in 1915, where it sat until 1921 when a competitor purchased the business and consolidated to one store.
At least eight employees worked for White Star/Star Steam at a time. Laundry was washed around the clock. They frequently advertised for new workers, calling it “first-class work,” in an attempt to minimize the danger and laborious nature. Employees could often be burned and remained at risk of the large rollers – called the mangle – steamers, and machinery that powered laundry equipment.
In 1892, Star Steam Laundry advertised family rates that could help families save money on their bill. At this point “White” had been dropped from the business name. There were at least three additional steam/dry cleaning businesses in town before 1920.
In 1886, the location advertised “dry washing/starching” for 25¢ per dozen. ($8.55 today) In addition, the business picked up and delivered laundry via wagon, asking patrons to call the phone number 44 if they missed the route. A basket remained inside the Clay County Star’s office, a newspaper of the time. Star Steam regularly boasted of its “saw-edge corners” and being the final laundry stop west along the train. (Whether or not that was true.)
In 1904, a gas explosion took place in Star Steam’s basement, shortly after their engine was re-fueled. It’s believed gas was spilled, which caught a spark with the hot engine. No one was hurt, though the blast caused multiple windows to shatter. Three young female employees were upstairs and fled to safety by crawling out of a window. The fire was put out and caused just $250 in damage. (Just over $9,000.)
By 1905, the laundry was joined by business owner, Alan Barber, who fixed gas stoves and sharpened mower blades. At this time, many downtown buildings contained many small businesses on all three levels: basement, main, and upstairs. (While some upstairs rooms remained living quarters.)
In 1915, the building owner, Mr. Edwin Landon, listed it for rent and offered to remodel it to the needs of his tenant. It’s believed at this time the laundry business was moved one door north into the basement of the Bonham Hotel’s Opera House at 816 5th Street. In 1917, Landon sold the business, and new machinery was put in place.
At this location, another accident took place with a young female employee got her thumb stuck in drying rollers. Her nail and the tip of her thumb were forcibly removed; they were re-attached by a surgeon.
Research by Susan Hammond.
