1915 Missoula Laundry and Dry Cleaners
In 1880 Mary Hagen arrived from Switzerland and settled in Bozeman, Montana with her five daughters and two sons. She was Joseph Hagen's mother and grandmother to Herman, Karl and Larry Topel. Mary's daughter, Mary Pauline (Lena for short) married Henry Topel (who arrived from Germany in 1880) in 1882. Mary Hagen and her son-in-law, Henry Topel, founded Bozeman Steam Laundry on the corner of Rouse St. and Mendenhall in 1900. This was the first steam laundry in Montana. Mary Hagen, together with her five daughters, two sons and one other man comprise the entire staff for the new laundry. Henry Topel continued his career as a tailor. In 1905, Henry Topel sold his interest in Bozeman's Steam Laundry to his brother-in-law, Michael O'Connell (husband of Mary's daughter, Mary Ada Hagen). This laundry is now called Gallatin Laundry and is currently owned by Mary Hagen's great grandson. Gallatin Laundry is the oldest business in Bozeman, continuously owned and operated by the same family.
After working with his mother in Bozeman Steam Laundry, Mary Hagen's oldest son, Joseph, moved to Missoula in 1908 and opened the Model Laundry in the basement of the Dorothy Apartments. In 1945, Joseph Hagen moved into a new building on 111 East Spruce St. and called the new operation, Missoula Laundry. Mary's other son moved to Seattle where, with his four sones, he established a chain of laundries in Washington. One of Mary's daughters, Clara, married John Sullivan, and employee of Missoula Laundry. John and Clara moved to Yakima, Washington, founding Peerless Laundry and Sullivan's Cleaners with their three sons. Peerless has been sold but Sullivan's continues to operate today. Another daughter, Elizabeth married Mike Flynn, a Potomac rancher, and worked as a seamstress at the Missoula Laundry for many years.
Henry Topel's sons, Herman and Karl, worked a short time for the Bozeman Steam Laundry. Herman also worked with his uncle, Joseph Hagen, at Missoula Laundry soon after 1915. Herman Topel then purchased the Domestic Laundry in Helena where Karl joined him. In the mid 1920's Herman and Karl consolidated with the Capital Laundry, calling it the Capital Domestic Laundry. In 1936, Herman, Karl, to-gether with their youngest brother, Larry, and financial help from other family members, bought the National Laundry in Great Falls. Herman moved to Great Falls to manage the National Laundry while Karl remained in Helena to operate Captial. At this time, Larry moved to Missoula to learn the laundry and dry cleaning business from his uncle, Joseph Hagen. Larry also attended the National Institute of Dry Cleaners school in Silver Springs, Maryland during 1937. Larry returned to Missoula to complete his training, then on to Capitol in Helena, and eventually to Great Falls where he opened National Laundry's first dry cleaning operation. Herman, Karl and Larry Topel purchased Missoula Laundry and Dry Cleaners Co. from their uncle, Joseph Hagen, in 1947. THey sold their interest in the Capitol Laundry at Helena. (Jim Robinson, a nephew of the Topel brothers, eventually purchased and operated the Capitol until his death in 1964.
1929 Business was strong.
1950 Missoula Textiles opened
2000 The trucks have changed.
