Historic Sites of Manitoba: North-West Laundry Building (181 Main Street, Winnipeg)

In 1891, North-West Laundry Limited was founded by Alexander Davidson who originally purchased a laundry plant on Hargrave Street in Winnipeg. In 1899, the laundry service business moved to a newly constructed building on the northeast corner of Main Street and York Avenue that was specially designed for the company. It was advertised as the oldest established and most extensive high class steam laundry west of the Great Lakes. The company was entirely operated by electricity with four rigs for delivery and employed over 100 people. It ceased operations sometime after September 1962.

“A fashion parade” on Main Street with the North-West Laundry Building on the left and Empire Hotel in the background right (1912) Source: Stovel-Advocate Collection, Archives of Manitoba Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.89071, W97.13545 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Davidson (1853-1921)

Memorable Manitobans: James Albert Davidson (1882-1949)

Sources:

“North-West Laundry, Ltd.,” The Voice, 27 March 1914, page 8.

“Local laundry again favored by royalty,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 28 March 1917, page 5.

“1899-North-West Laundry Ltd. - 1930,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 26 February 1930, page 95.

“North-West Laundry,” Winnipeg Evening Tribune, 21 September 1962, page 8.

This page was prepared by Milan Lukes and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 27 December 2025

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