Uwanta Cleaners
12" x 8" 200 In Edition

In 1908 Harry Vass was operating the Uwanta Pressing Club, a small clothes cleaning business on St. Emanuel Street across from his competitor, the Peerless Steam Laundry and Dyeing Company.  These were the days when the cleaning business was in much use by families.  Vass' business was growing, and by 1910 he had moved the business to 117 Conti Street opposite Klosky's famous restaurant.  It was a good location and soon attracted the attention of F. Mims Harris and Robert D. Hallett, Sr. who acquired the business.

Harris and Hallett continued to operate the business on Conti Street until about 1913, at which time they moved the store to the Hotel St. Andrews on Royal Street.  After a few years they moved the business from the Hotel St. Andrews (probably between 1918 and 1920) to next door, 6 N. Royal Street.  This was the location in which George E. Bosarge had operated his barber shop, and Silas A. Burgoyne had run his jewelry store.  By 1922, Hallett had become the sole proprietor of the "Uwanta."  Hallett continued the operation of  the business at the same location until about 1928 or 1929, when he moved the store to the former location of Edward Halin's Chickasaw Cafe at 5 N. Royal Street.  From this period until about 1970 the Uwanta was operated at this location.  This scene depicts the Uwanta at its last location sometime between 1928 and 1931.  In 1955, or thereabouts, Mr. Hallett's son Robert D. Hallett, Jr. became the owner and operator of the store until he closed the Uwanta about 1970.

 

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