I passed by the old Central Wet Wash smokestack (Irving & Elston) today, and it made me think...when I was a kid, I remember quite a few smokestacks that had the company name inlaid in contrasting-color brick, usually a laundry service of some sort. They've disappeared so gradually I barely realized they were gone.

I remember one was Albany Wet Wash, which was blonde brick with the inlay in red. I can't remember where it was, though - Irving & California, maybe? I also seem to remember one for Garden City Laundry, which was off of the Eisenhower.

So...why does it seem the laundry services got all the fancy smokestacks?

I've alwasy been fond of the Garden City Laundry smokestake at 3333 W. Harrison. Never looked like much of a Garden but I always knew I was close to home when I saw it. http://goo.gl/maps/aSwU7

Passed by a real nice example today around 4300 W. Division, for Rainbow Wet Wash.