The Street Seen: Pacific Soft Water Laundry
10th Street @ Colorado
In 1912, Nonpareil Laundry is founded at 10th and Colorado. In 1916, it becomes New Troy Soft Water Laundry, and in 1922, Pacific Soft Water Laundry. In 1943 Pacific Soft Water Laundry is destroyed in an explosion and fire.
In 1912,1 Nonpareil Laundry is founded at 10th & Colorado by W.G. Fletcher (president),2 George C. Garlock,3 May Ratcliff,4 and I.C. Ratcliff.5 Fetcher has long experience as a laundryman The new building is 48 ft x 24 ft in plan with 3 employees. One year later, the building has expanded to 48 ft x 70 ft with 20 employees. Water from drilled well then distilled (condensed steam)
In 1916, New Troy Soft Water Laundry, incorporated with W.G. Fletcher (president), George Garlock (manager), May Ratcliff (secretary), and I.C. Ratcliff (treasurer) with $20,000 capital, takes over Nonpareil Laundry.
In 1921, Pacific Soft Water Laundry, incorporated6 with Aaron Michaels (president),7 W.G. Fletcher (vice-president), Â and W.C. Bull (secretary-treasurer), takes over New Troy Soft Water Laundry.
In July 1925, Michaels leaves for a trip to Europe. Immediately upon his departure, three minority stockholders, W.C. Bull, W.G. Fletcher, and Earl H. Craft, call a meeting of the Board and, in the absence of Michaels, reorganized the company. They oust Michaels as president and substitute Bull. They issue $30,000 of additional stock - the purpose of which is to buy this new stock themselves (or have bought for them), giving them majority control of the company. The matter makes its way into the courts. In 1927, the courts ruled for Michaels and the loyal to Michaels director, Pervine. The $30,000 stock issue is voided.
In 1943, the Pacific Soft Water Laundry (along with hundreds of washing bundles) is completely destroyed in an explosion and fire. In the early morning fire, no employees are in the building. Although the loss is covered by insurance, due to wartime priorities, it is not possible to replace the laundry equipment.
Santa Monica’s first steam laundry, the Santa Monica Steam Laundry, opens in 1896. By 1912, the 7 laundries in Santa Monica, Ocean Park, and Venice are: Nonpareil (SM), Santa Monica Steam (SM), Domestic Hand (OP), Imperial (OP), Ocean Park Steam (OP), Leader (V), and Beach(V).
William Garfield Fletcher (1880–1930). Born in MI, Fletcher comes to Venice in 1905. He marries Bessie Ellen Chown (1886–1947) in 1911. Fletcher is president of Nonpareil Laundry at 10th & Colorado in 1912. He is president of New Troy Soft Water Laundry that takes over Nonpareil in 1916. In 1922, Fletcher is vice-president of Pacific Soft Water Laundry. He dies in Venice (aged 50).
George Sylvester Garlock (1866 – 1941). Born on the family dairy farm in NY, Garlock joined his brother, Eugene T. Garlock (1854 - 1922), in mining for gold in CA. Eugene is the founder of the town of Garlock. From 1896 to 1900, George Garlock is a farmer in Tehachapi. In 1912, Garlock becomes the manager of Nonpareil Laundry at 10th & Colorado. In 1916, he is the manager for New Troy Soft Water Laundry. In 1918, George (age 52) marries fellow laundry person May Ratcliff (age 37). After New Troy Soft Water Laundry is taken over by Pacific Soft Water Laundry in 1921, George opens a dry cleaning business in Santa Monica.
Marinda May Ratcliff Garlock Duckett (1881 - 1973). Born in KS, the first child of eight of Quaker father, I. C. Ratcliff (1856 – 1941), May comes to Pasadena with her family in 1890. In 1910, she lives with two sisters at the Waverly Apartment at Main & Hill. May works as the office manager for the Ocean Park Steam Laundry. After learning the laundry business from J.B. Lorbeer, in 1912, May becomes the manager of Nonpareil Laundry at 10th & Colorado. In 1916, she is the manager for New Troy Soft Water Laundry. In 1918, May (age 37) marries fellow laundryman George S. Garlock (age 52). In 1926, May Garlock is the manager of the Domestic Hand Laundry at 14th & Broadway. In 1947, she is in Santa Ana, where in 1950, she marries Edward Clarence Duckett (1875–1966).
Isom Cook Ratcliff (1856 – 1941). Born into a Quaker family in Iowa, he comes to Pasadena in 1890. Ratcliff operates a moving (transfer) business. In 1912, he joins his eldest daughter, May Ratcliff, in operating Nonpareil Laundry in Santa Monica. In 1916, he is treasurer of New Troy Soft Water Laundry. Ratcliff sells his interest in New Troy Soft Water Laundry in 1920. In 1926 Ratcliff is president of Domestic Hand Laundry at 14th & Broadway managed by his daughter May. In 1930, he lives at 1411 Pearl in Sunset Park, where he dies in 1941.
Pacific Soft Water Laundry directors are Aaron Michaels, W.G. Fletcher, W.C. Bull, Earl Craft, and Wilber Pervine. Former owners of New Troy Soft Water Laundry, May Ratcliff and her father, I.C. Ratcliff, leave to operate Domestic Hand Laundry, and George Garlock opens a dry cleaning business.
Aaron Michaels (1883 – 1971). Born in Romania, Michaels comes to the US in 1902. By 1910, he is in Los Angeles, where he marries Jessie K Michaels (1889 – 19??). In 1918, during WWI, Michaels buys the Ashton bakery at 1432 3rd St. He is a very successful baker. From 1920 to 1933, he is the co-owner of the Beach Laundry in Venice. In 1922, he is president and major shareholder of Pacific Soft Water Laundry at 10th & Colorado. In 1922, he builds a four-store building on the SEC Santa Monica Blvd and 6th St.