Thursday, June 18, 2009

No.35: Long's Laundry


Entry No. 18 on Fair Day mentioned the memorable Long's Laundry sign on the corner of Main Street and the little street that led to the fairgrounds years ago. After dark this neon sign was a thing of beauty as the washerwoman's arms moved back and forth, scrubbing her clothes on the washboard propped inside her washtub.
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I assume the sign came down when the laundry closed. The building was one of several that were demolished when the City developed the new Fairpark District. See the link in Entry No. 18 for more information on that development.
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Thanks to Stan Byrd for finding this photograph of the old sign. It came from the "Centennial Edition" of the old "See Tupelo" publication.

4 comments:

  1. Stan Byrd emailed the following:

    "It came from a 'See Tupelo' magazine. The Van Bristow cartoons in this advertising publication were classic.

    "Was the West Jackson location across from Dale Walton's or further out?"

    Does anyone know the answer to Stan's question?

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  2. I am right sure that it was across from Dale's...wasnt there too long as i recall...

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  3. I always associated that sign with the Miss./Ala. fair and dairy show. We would go at night, and it was always lit up right there before you get to the ticket booth. I was probably in high school before I took the time to read the sign.

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  4. The "washer woman" is my most vivid memory of downtown Tupelo. We often drove down to see her at night and it was always a thrill. (That's kind of sad.) Anyway, I was grown before I realized that my parents were probably not all that enamoured with her; they were much more interested in the car ride that put us to sleep.

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