Royal Laundry


The Royal Laundry & Dry Cleaning Works was a large laundering business located at 311-313 Fourth Avenue in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was a well known community institution in Cedar Rapids for much of the 20th century.

Proprietor

The Laundry was owned and operated by Frederick A. Burchard, who lived from 1882-1973. Burchard born in Rudd, Iowa, the son of Paul and Rosamund Burchard. He moved to Cedar Rapids in 1910 and operated the Royal Laundry until retiring in 1966. He was a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Chamber of Commerce. He is buried with his wife, Stella M. Burchard in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Frederick and Stella had three children; Robert Frederick Burchard, Evelyn Burchard Spencer, and Ruth Washburn. Robert F. Burchard attended Mckinley School, Iowa State, and the American Institute of Laundering, sponsored by his father. He was a pilot in World War II, and was killed examining a german mortar shell in Libya. He posthumously received a Purple Heart and is honored in the Gold Star Hall at Iowa State. Evelyn Burchard graduated from Iowa State, and married Henry C. Spencer, also of Cedar Rapids, in 1938.

Advertising

In 1913, the Royal Laundry suffered from a major fire. In response, Mr. Burchard published an advertisement in The Cedar Rapids Republican telling customers that they were still in business. "Royal Laundry customers who have had laundry and clothing destroyed or damaged will he pleased to learn that Mr. Burchard intends to make arrangements with his customers that will be satisfactory to both, even though the risk of fire is accepted by customers when bringing laundry. Modern Machinery, Better Service Machinery has been ordered and will be installed at once, so send in your laundry or clothes. The Royal will care for your needs."
In another advertisement in the Coe College Cosmos, the laundry reminded customers to "Be Loyal to the Royal," emphasizing a specialty in curtains and rugs. It also offered to press suits for free. The Royal Laundry also offered employment and listed machinery for sale in the National Laundry Journal.
In 1926, F. A. Burchard discussed the importance of buying in Cedar Rapids on a panel with other business leaders.