A demolition crew was found razing the building that once housed the Salmon Cleaners, on
Oak Avenue Street, Wednesday, July 5th.


Local Business Icon Razed
For Church Expansion


by: Bobby McDonald

For native Sulphur Springs residents, the sight of bulldozers and a demolition crew on Oak Avenue at the site of the Salmon Cleaners, on Wednesday, brought back a flood of memories. The longtime Sulphur Springs Business was began in Hopkins County in 1946, when Mr. Menzo Salmon and Earl Featherstone purchased the Greenhill Cleaners on Gilmer Street, when Greenhill was murdered.

Two years later, Salmon and Featherstone moved their business to the Oak Avenue location, building the building. The Salmon-Featherstone Cleaners operated as a partnership, until Featherstone's death in 1961. At that time, Bob Gideon, son-in-law of Menzo Salmon, purchased Featherstone's shares and became a partner, along with his wife, Ann, in the business. They jointly operated the business until Mr. Salmon's death, in 1969, when the Gideons became full owners.

 

A vintage 1970's era ad for Salmon Cleaners that appeared in a Sulphur Springs High School
yearbook. Left to right are Bob Gideon, Robert Gideon, and David Gideon, in front of the store
on Oak Avenue Street.

"I grew-up in the business," expressed Ann Salmon Gideon. "I was about twelve years old when my dad bought into the cleaning business and have done almost any job that could be done in the business, and, of course, we saw many, many changes in the way clothes were cleaned."

Bob and Ann Gideon operated the business, until their retirement in 2000, when the sold the business to Meeks Laundry and Cleaning Service. Meeks sold the property to First Baptist Church, for use in an expansion project.

"The cleaning business is hard work, especially in the summertime," expressed Ann. "But, the business allowed our family to meet loads of people and make many, many friends across Hopkins County. And, it served as a business that included four generations of my family. My grandchildren have all spent time behind the counter at the business!"

Many will remember the Salmon Cleaners by its location between George's Bakery and The Banks Company.



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