South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-11-06
GREENWICH RUNS
COOP LAUNDRY
Artists and Writers in Unique
Village Boast of Only In
stitutiOn In l.. S.

NEW YORK. Nov. 5.-Green-
wich Village has the only coopera-
tive laundry in TINS section Of the
country. It was said at the state de-
partment Of farms and markets.
which has supervision over coopera-
tive organizations. such laundries
have been operated for some time
with success ia the west and a.
New England. The local venture.
at first beset with many difficulties
Is also operating smoothly and so
increasing its business that a mate
rial expansion in equipment was de-
cided upon recently.
The laundry located in the base
ment OF Greenwich House. at q
Barrow St, on the corner Of Seventh
av., is operated by the Village Co
operative society, Inc. Il was start
ed last January by a Greenwich
Village group OF writer's and artists.
mainly with the idea II getting
first class laundry work done al rea-
sOnable prices under strict super
vision as 20 the quality OF work. A
large number OF members. Obtained
about 1000 worth Of equipment
and started business
Found They Needed Manager.
At first there were many dlHncul-
ties to overcome. Most OF the su-
pervising force We're volunteers.
who found it necessary TO give an
undue amount OF time for several
weeks correcting errors IN delivery
and making. Then they realized
that 20 have efficient MANAGEMENT
they needed "A skilful and oxper-
fenced person IN charge They
found this very person IN Mrs. Jo-
hanna F'ude, who continued with
the laundry as manager She had
previously operated laundries on a
cooperative basis in The west
The quality Of the work was ma
teriaIly improved under the super
vision OF Mrs. Fude. but for several
weeks there continued to be trouble
IN deliveries and bookkeeping. A
detailed Investigation was made By
q special managing com mittse,
headed by Louis y. Biachiy Three
expert laundry owners interested IN
cooperative enterprises assisted.
New methods Of cooperation were
worked out
Hard Times During Summer.
Changes were put into effect az q
time when patrons and members Of
the corporation were leaving for the
summer, either on vacation or 20
commute. with the result that ell
during tho summer the most prodi-
gi0us efforts were necessary % keep
the laundry operating on 2 seif-sus-
tanning basis MANY laundries drop
three-fourths n their business IN
summer months. r. ls said and some
even took advantage Of the lull m
business 20 make further investlga-
ton OF The laundry business and 20
improve methods already adopted.
The volunteers worked themselves
thin during this period. bur they
put the laundry on firm basis.
where Il is today.
with the return IN September %
ne patrons and members The bus-
ness OF the laundry doubled 81 a SIN
gle week likewise the profits. Ex-
panslon became absolutely nece--
cary. IN two DAYS Il new customers
were received. each being sent 10y 9
satisfied cue 1mer. Additional space
has been obtained a. the present To-
cation and new equipment VII De
Installed at once. as the result OF q
meeting OF the stockholders lsst
week. when $500 Tor new equipment
was raised on the spot The total
necessary for the addition. which
viii treble the capacity OF the Laun-
dry. Is t2.500.
Receipts Constantly Increase.
For some tine the laundry took IN
from $3.50 20 $50 a week. but now
the average IS around $500 a week.
The enterprise employs a manager
washer and three or four ironerA
Regular rent IS paid 10 the Green
wich House. Patrons are charged
the average price obtaining az I5
other so-called hand laundriss IN
tia Rsighborhood.