Terre Haute Postcards

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Ermisch Cleaners

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Ermisch Cleaners Matchbook (1930's)

Already an experienced dyer Julius F. Ermisch, a German native, arrived in America in 1879. In 1885, he arrived in Terre Haute and started working for John H. Nelgen business. a year later, in 1886, he bought that business for $1,000. Ermisch's fancy dyeing, scouring, and chemical-cleaning establishment was located at 656 Wabash Avenue. Over the years, dry cleaning became the predominant element of the company's business. Ermisch was active in it prefessionally and was instrumental in establishing the National Institute of Dry Cleaners in Milwaukee in August 1907.

In August 1906 the Ermisch Dyeing Company moved to 106 North SeventhStreet. Within the next six years, Ermisch built new plants, first at 635 Chestnut Street and then at 206-208 North Third Street (although the company continued to operate out of the Seventh Street address until at least 1922). Between 1910 and 1914, George A. Schaal was a partner in the cleaning business, which became known as the Ermisch Dyeing & Cleaning Company.

When he died in 1922, Julius He left the business to his two sons: Robert, who succeeded him as president, and Herman J., who became vice president. By the 1930s the company had incorporated
as Ermisch Brothers and, at some point in that decade, became known as Ermisch My Cleaner. Robert sold his interest in Ermisch Brothers and moved to California. Herman disposed of his interests in the firm but continued in dry cleaning, building a new cleaning plant at 1528 Poplar Street in 1941 and establishing Herm Ermisch Cleaners. Robert's ex-wife, Zora J. Ermisch, however, continued to operate Ermisch Brothers, or Ermisch My Cleaner, through the 1950s as a separate company.

By 1945 Herm Ermisch Cleaners employed fifty workers. After Herman died in 1954, his widow, Mildred, and son, John B. Ermisch, assumed control of the firm, which operated five branch locations in addition to its main plant. They operated it as Ermisch Cleaners. By the early 1990s the company managed coin-operated facilities and began computerizing its financial operations.

Sources:

Ermisch Cleaners from Indiana Historical Society
Julius F. Ermisch

This page created 20th February 2008, last modified 16th July 2008