The Street Seen: Domestic Hand Laundry (14th St)
1453 14th Street @ Broadway
The Domestic Hand Laundry facility at 514 Ocean Park Blvd is inadequate for the growing demand, so in 1926, the new owners move the laundry to 14th St near Broadway. The laundry is still in operation in 1974, and the building still exists.
In 1926, some of the former owners of New Troy Soft Water Laundry form Domestic Hand Laundry. I.C. Ratcliff is president, Charles E. Ratcliffe vice-president,1 W.P. Abbott secretary-treasurer,2 and May Ratcliff Garlock the laundry manager. To meet the growing demand, in 1926, Domestic Hand Laundry is moved from 514 Ocean Park Blvd to 14th St near Broadway (1453 14th St). The 1925 1-story stucco building is 40 ft x 50 ft on the 50 ft x 150 ft lot. Soon, the new facility is handling double the work of the old plant. In 1926, to accommodate the increased demand, the building is extended with a 40 ft x 40 ft addition on the rear.
Domestic Hand Laundry advertises that it is the only woman-managed laundry in Southern California.
In 1932, the Santa Monica School Board divides the laundering of bath towels between two local laundries – Santa Monica Steam Laundry and Domestic Hand Laundry. The local laundries bid is 1.25 cents per towel compared with the 1 cent bid by Los Angeles laundries.
In 1935, Domestic Hand Laundry its changes name to Domestic Laundry.
Domestic Laundry is still operating at 1453 14th St in 1974.
Then the space becomes Theater of Form (1981), Workout (1985), and Wildfiber (2014).
Charles Edward Ratcliffe (1889 – 1977). Born in CA, from 1906 to 1912, Ratcliffe is a grocery store clerk in Pomona. In 1913 he marries Ethel Ackerman (1891 - 1964) in Los Angeles. From 1913 to 1914, he is a grocery clerk in Venice. In 1915, Ratcliffe is a driver for Nonpareil Laundry and then for its successor, New Troy Soft Water Laundry. In 1926, he is vice president of Domestic Hand Laundry. In 1928. Ratcliffe and W.P. Abbott leave Domestic Hand Laundry to start Palisades Cleaners & Dyers on Montana Ave in Santa Monica. In 1940, he is a wholesale hay salesman in Downey.
William Park Abbott (1891 – 1948). Born in NY, Abbott comes with his parents to Santa Monica in 1912. He and his brother Frank were married to Mildred and Lillian Perry, sisters in 1915. In 1926, Abbott is secretary-treasurer of Domestic Hand Laundry. In 1928 Abbott and Charles Ratcliffe, leave Domestic Hand Laundry to open Palisades Cleaners & Dyers.