Summary information
| Repository: | South Peace Regional Archives |
| Title: | Grande Prairie Cleaners fonds |
| Reference code: | 0526 |
| Date: | [1950-1970] (date of creation) |
| Physical description: | 1 cm textual records
8 photographs |
| Dates of creation, revision and deletion: | Likely processed by Leslie Gordon, February 2013 Added to new database December 2024 – TD |
Administrative history / Biographical sketch
In the 1940s Mr. & Mrs. Blais had the “New Method Cleaners” located on Richmond Avenue on the southwest block. Before that Mr. Stredulinsky, the tailor, occasionally cleaned men’s suits. After the war in 1948, Chuck Littman opened the Grande Prairie Cleaners on Richmond Avenue in the McDonald building, then built a new plant located on 101 Street south of McGavin’s Bakery (formerly Spicer’s Bakery) and Alberta Power. Their 1958 advertisement states that “from a staff of only four the business has grown until today 20 people, working in one of the province’s most up-to-date dry cleaning plants, are providing the Peace River Country with a fast, reliable dry cleaning service through a network of agents and depots. By then, they had three trucks serving the Peace River Country. In the mid 1960s Bill Bowes purchased Grande Prairie Cleaners from Chuck Littman, and in 1981 Mike Stojan purchased the Cleaners from Bill. In the mid 1980s, the property on 101 Avenue was purchased by the City of Grande Prairie. The building was moved to Richmond Industrial Park where it remains today and continues to be owned by Mike Stojan.
Custodial history
Records brought in by Margaret Bowes, a previous owner of the business. Records signed for by Mike Stojan, current owner.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of a short history of Grande Prairie Cleaners written by Margaret Bowes; eight photographs of the facility, the fleet, and the staff between 1950 and 1970; a 1966 advertising proposal for Grande Prairie Cleaners from CFGP Radio; and a photocopy of a 1958 newspaper ad celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Cleaners and the new status of Grande Prairie as a City.
Notes
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title of fonds based on contents.
Access points
- Textual record (documentary form)
- Graphic material – photograph (documentary form)
- Business (subject)
- Communications (subject)
Series descriptions
| Reference code | Title | Dates | Physical description |
| 2013.005.01 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners Art Craft Studio, Grande Prairie |
[1950] | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie Cleaners, in the 1950s, consisted of a 90’ x 50’ Butler Building with a 24’ x 50’ brick building on the south end. It was owned by Chuck Litman and located north of the tracks on 101 Street south of 99th Avenue. It was purchased in the mid 1960s by Bill Bowes, who in turn sold it to Mike Stojan in 1981. In the mid 1980s, the property was purchased by the City of Grande Prairie, and the building was moved to Richmond Industrial Park. |
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| 2013.005.02 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners | 1964 | 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie Cleaners in 1964, around the time it was purchased by Bill Bowes. Beside the building is a delivery van for Grande Prairie Cleaners, and a station wagon and delivery truck for United Uniform Rentals, a second aspect of the business. The business was located north of the tracks on 101 Street south of 99th Avenue, and the grain elevators can be seen in the background. |
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| 2013.005.03-04 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners | 1964 | 2 photographs : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. |
| Scope and content:
Two interior views of Grande Prairie Cleaners ca. 1964, showing the machines and clothing racks in the processing section of the building. Grande Prairie Cleaners was located north of the tracks on 101 Street south of 99th Avenue, and the grain elevators can be seen in the background. |
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| 2013.007.01 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners Staff | [1965] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie Cleaners staff in front of their delivery truck. From left to right they are: Harry Schneider, Charles Littman, Bill Bowes, ?, and ___ Bowes. |
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| 2013.007.02 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners Staff | [1965] | 1 TIFF : colour |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie Cleaners staff in front of their delivery truck. From left to right they are: Bowes, Bill Bowes, Charles Littman , Harry Schneider, ?, |
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| 2013.007.03 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners Van | [1965] | 1 TIFF : b&w |
| Scope and content:
Grande Prairie Cleaners van in a parade ca. 1950. In the background is the Miller’s Taxi building. |
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| 2013.007.04 | Item – Grande Prairie Cleaners Parade Float | [1965] | 1 TIFF : colour |
| Scope and content:
Bill Bowes and two young sons in Grande Prairie Cleaners uniforms in front of the company vans, one of them decorated in flyers for a parade. |
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