Footer's Dye Works facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Footer's Dye Works
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Footer's Dye Works in 2014
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | South Mechanic and Howard Streets, Cumberland, Maryland |
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| Built | 1906 |
| NRHP reference No. | 13000460 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 2013 |
The Footer's Dye Works building is a historic place in Cumberland, Maryland. It's a four-story brick building that was once part of a very large cleaning and dyeing business. This business was a major employer in Cumberland. It was built in 1906 and is the last building left from that big company.
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A Busy Business
In the 1920s, Footer's Dye Works was a very important cleaning company in its region. It was a huge operation! The company paid out thousands of dollars each week to its many workers. Nearly 500 people worked there.
Footer's Dye Works had offices in twenty cities in nearby states. These offices helped collect and send items for cleaning. One special customer was the White House in Washington, D.C. They sent their lace curtains to Footer's for cleaning! The company also had big offices in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
Hard Times Arrive
The 1930s brought tough times for Footer's Dye Works. A new way of cleaning called "dry cleaning" became popular. Footer's factory still used an older steam cleaning method.
Also, the Great Depression was happening across the United States. This made it hard for many businesses. Then, a big flood from the Potomac River hit in March 1936. Because of these problems, Footer's Dye Works had to close down. The company officially filed for bankruptcy on June 12, 1936.
What Happened Next
After the main business closed, the building was sold. By 1939, Harry Footer, who was part of the original family, opened a new cleaning business. It was called Harry Footer & Co. and was located in a different building.
The old Footer's Dye Works complex was divided and sold to different companies. For example, part of it became a "Red Head Oil Co." and another part was used by "Montgomery Ward" as a warehouse. Later, state employment offices and even the Army Reserve used parts of the big four-story brick building.
Historic Recognition
The Footer's Dye Works building is important because of its history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it is recognized as a special place that should be preserved.
