1958 was a landmark year for the American Widow Cleaning Company and the American Rug Cleaning Company. After years in business in the downtown area, the company purchased the Thompson Motor Company building at 1594 Dwight Street for $30,000.
The companies would consolidate operations at the new location. The move included relocating the 308 High Street office and the rug-cleaning plant in the Technifax building at 193 Appleton Street. The Technifax location had been used for the past 6 years. Also, there was sufficient space to open an expanded retail store for the sale of rugs and carpeting. Carpet installation would also be available.
Renovations were necessary to the existing building, and space was required for the new rug-cleaning equipment. Plant space was expanded to include a rug drying tower. The facility could clean 60 rugs at a time using a 650,000 gas-fired heater.
It was anticipated that the new shop would be readied for opening in early 1959. The general contractor was Lawrence J. Petri; electrical service was provided by Frank E. Brogle; plumbing and gas by Holyoke Plumbing Service; roofing by C. J. Sullivan; sheet metal work by E. H. Friedrich; and the electrical sign by Ace Signs.
A grand opening celebration took place on February 28, 1959. There was a major welcome to the new location sale, with special offers on area rugs and rug cleaning. Women were greeted with corsages. At the time, the companytouted 36 years of rug cleaning experience.
In the mid-1960s, Sidney Radner's son, William "Bill" Radner, entered the business during his high school breaks. He learned about the business from the ground up, cleaning rugs.
In 1968, the company undertook a major expansion of its existing space. Edward J. O'Leary Company of Southampton was the general contractor for the project. Land was purchased adjacent to the existing building. One wall was removed to enlarge the existing showroom and accommodate an office. A 3,600 square foot stockroom was added to the rear of the building. New modern lighting, air conditioning, and a truck loading entrance were installed. The facade of the old section was matched to the new. The business continued to serve customers during the noisy and distracting renovations.
On November 17, 1968, a grand opening celebration was held with refreshments, prizes, and a raffle for a wall-to-wall kitchen carpet.
During the 1970s, the company added Astro-Turf to its product line. In 1975, Sidney Radner was elected President of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce. By the late 1970s, a mobile carpet cleaning service was offered.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
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