A few weeks ago we looked at the origins of the subdivision known as Linwood Heights, and in the process, we discovered the owner of the subdivision was also for a time the owner of one of Lindsay’s oldest businesses, Victoria Laundry. Here’s a look back at Victoria Laundry.

Much of what we know about the business comes from a special souvenir section of the local newspaper printed in December 1987 to mark the business’s 100th anniversary.

We’ve dug around to see what else we can find.

Victoria Laundry first opened in October 1887 by Sergeant-Major John Martin.

Born near Port Hope around 1842, Martin came to Lindsay in 1867. He had already enlisted for military service at age 17 and went on to be a veteran of the Crimean War.

Proud of his military service, Martin was known for wearing his medals, and rumour has it, he had a cannon on his lawn that he would fire for special occasions.

This photo from the souvenir edition shows Sgt-Maj Martin (L, seated) wearing his medals with his wife, Martha Seaton. They are perhaps surrounded by their children, but through census information, it appears they only had six children: Mary Anne, Robert Henry, Joshua William, John, Frederick, and Millie. At least four of the individuals in the photo are likely other relations, including grandchildren. When Martha Seaton Martin passed away in 1911, they had only four surviving children: Robert Henry, Frederick, Millie and Mary Anne.

While the Russell Street address is most known as the home of Victoria Laundry, the business was first located on Peel Street, between the Salvation Army and the curling rink. By May 1889, the business had relocated to William Street North across the street from St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

By 1891, Victoria Laundry was on Russell Street, near the Sylvester factory, which they noted in their advertising, likely hoping to do the washing for factory workers.

Business did so well, Sgt-Maj Martin opened another location in Omemee. This advertisement also shows one of the many names used by the business over its lifetime: “Victoria Laundry”, “Victoria Steam Laundry”, “Victoria Electric Laundry” and “Victoria Laundry and Dry Cleaning.”

The souvenir edition showed several old photos of the Victoria Laundry, including the workers and the interior of the business, but didn’t cite the source of the photos, and we don’t know where the original photos are now.

The Watchman-Warder profiled the Victoria Laundry in December 1945, stating the business had 500 regular customers in the winter, a number that blossomed to over 2500 in the summer when the business serviced cottagers and hotels.

The fire started at 2pm on November 6 with a spark on the pitch and tar roof of the laundry, which was in the frame building attached at the rear of the brick house, over the boiler and sorting rooms. The fire quickly spread over the entire building as firefighters contended with a westerly breeze fanning the flames. A laundry truck parked nearby exploded. Some of the clothing in for washing was destroyed, but miraculously, all dress shirts had been saved, thanks to the employees and citizens for quickly carrying the laundry out of the building.

Where once a red brick ‘Ontario cottage’ style home stood out front, at some point it was renovated into the boxy, stucco-covered two-storey standing today.

Victoria Laundry on Russell Street West before 1900.

Victoria Laundry on Russell Street West in the 1980s. From the souvenir edition.

With the invention and affordability of the household washing machine and dryer, Victoria Laundry needed to make changes in order to survive.

In 1952, laundry services expanded to include dry cleaning. In 1974, they expanded again to offer uniforms and floor mats to rent, and in 1977, they added the renting of linens and tablecloths for weddings and banquets.

Operations out-grew the Russell Street facility, and the company shifted operation to a plant on Fleetwood Road.

Victoria Laundry remained in operation until 1997 when proprietor Blair Bailey retired.

Proprietors of the Victoria Laundry:

1887-1905 Sergeant-Major John Martin

1905-1917 Thomas Trotter

1917-1923 F.P. and Jessie B. Weldon

1923-1934 Henry Daniels

1934- 1936 Milford Sleep (erroneously reported as C.V. Sleep in the anniversary news edition, though Milford may have been a partial owner, however, the advertising during this period reported C.V. as proprietor)

1936-1950 George Edward Cluff

1950-1953 John Morris Cluff

1953-1954 Harland C. Rutherford and Kenneth M. Bailey

1954-1970 Kenneth M. Bailey

1970-1977 Kenneth M. Bailey and Malcolm M. Hickson

1977-1997 K. Blair Bailey and Malcolm M. Hickson

Victoria Laundry

The History of 11 Ridout