The Green/Pruitt building today, home to Labels. -- SUBMITTED PHOTO SALLY SEHN
In 1982, the historic Medicine Hat Steam Laundry building, located on Second Street in the Flats, was demolished. Although the structure had been there for 70 years, this was not the first location of the business. Before this site, the Medicine Hat Steam Laundry was operating from the rear of 385 Toronto Street, today 627-629 Third Street S.E.
The first Medicine Hat Steam Laundry began operations in 1899, closing in 1901. Soon after, two young men from Ontario, John Green, a qualified steamfitter, and his brother (Alexander) William Green revived the local business. After William drowned in June 1905, the result of a local ferry accident, younger brother Archibald Green replaced William in the Green brothers’ operation.
In November 1906, the Green Bros. contracted M. Peard and A.P Burns to construct a two-storey brick building on Toronto Street to house the Medicine Hat Steam Laundry. The steam laundry occupied two floors at the rear. The basement was reserved for washing, starching, and mangling; the storey above, utilized as a finishing room. In an era when there were few jobs for females, the laundry mainly hired women. It was a hard job, especially in the summer when temperatures could exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38C) in the hot and humid facility. Using the relatively new telephone system, laundry could be picked up by phoning the Medicine Hat Steam Laundry at No. 8, the eighth phone installed in the city.
The structure reportedly cost $21,000, a great deal of money for the young, enterprising brothers. It is likely that the building was financed by Llewellyn H. Pruitt, who is registered as the owner in early tax records. Pruitt was a Texas rancher with deep pockets. Around 1902, “Red Buck” Pruitt (1847-1925), headed to Canada with 1,800 head of cattle. Pruitt soon expanded into brick making (LP brickmark), coal mining, construction and real estate. Although he decided to return to the States after about a decade, Pruitt retained the Third Street building for rental revenue. He and his wife Emma kept an apartment in the “Pruitt Block” until his death.
In early 1912, John Green, manager of the newly formed Medicine Hat Steam Laundry Co., asked the city if the laundry could purchase gas at manufacturer’s rates, lower rates usually reserved for the large factories such as the mills. A new and larger steam laundry facility was being planned. The lower rates were granted, and work began on the new building. While the new building was under construction, a fire caused by trash burning in the lane, gutted the old steam laundry, sparing the rest of the Pruitt Block. Construction was pushed ahead and on June 3, 1912, the Medicine Hat Steam Laundry began operations at their new location, 873A Second Street, phone No. 8.
Sally Sehn is a past Member of the Heritage Resources Committee of the City of Medicine Hat.
