For the first 10 years, there is no mention of a laundry facility. An early student remembers only a tub and washboard. Initially, with only 6 boys and 2 girls, clothing labels may not have been necessary.

 

Although clothing labels may have been required sooner than 1918, the first official documentation we have noting this is found in the Prospectus for 1918, which states that all clothing must be labelled with "Cash's Tapes," a British brand of sewn-in clothing labels still being produced by the company today! An example of a clothing label can be seen in the blazer pictured here from 1939, donated by Head Boy, Doan Hartnell ’39 (Copeman’s).

 

We know that a laundry room was part of the new School building in 1927 with one wringer washer. It was located on the bottom floor of the east wing, where it remained until 2002. Clothes dryers were not generally available until the 1940s, but we do not know when the School was able to acquire such a luxury. There was a laundry chute next to the dining room entrance, and many stories of mischief and larks feature said laundry chute!

 

Today the Laundry is located in a much larger and brighter space under Marion Hall. There, four full-time staff work with four industrial machines for 45 hours per week to sort, wash, dry, mend, iron and fold clothes for 550 students. Contributing to the success and efficiency of this epic process are the clothing labels, without which total chaos would ensue. Iron-on labels eventually became more common than sewn-in labels and the current labels are the never-come-off-till-you-die-and-maybe-later type. Every item, including every sock, must be labelled. 

 

One of the fabulous “Laundry Ladies” recalls a memorable incident when an unusual looking sweater arrived in a student’s laundry bag, identified by the fabric label to be 100% possum! Not skilled in laundering this fabric, they sent it out for drycleaning.