Chinese Laundries

Henry Hop Kee --------------Tueng Lee -----------------Lee Sang-----------
Leong Jim-------------------Sam Wah-------------------Charley Lune

Each of the men listed above once ran his own Chinese laundry in downtown Defiance.  Popular during the late 19th and early 20th century, these laundries were usually run by Chinese immigrants who would hand wash and press clothes for their patrons.  

 The first mention found in the local newspapers of a Chinese laundry in Defiance was that of Henry Hop Kee.  The Defiance County Express ran this brief advertisement on May 11, 1882:

"Henry Hop Kee, Chinese laundryman, 3 doors west of Carey's billiard parlor on Front street, Defiance.

Tueng Lee's business was first announced on September 3, 1885.  He, perhaps, was the laundryman burglarized in a news report of 1886, losing a silver watch and two dollars.

Charley Luna followed in 1890.

On July 6, 1895, a reporter wrote in the Defiance Daily Crescent:

"Leong Jim, the almond eye 'washee man' will open a laundry in the Harley building at 418 Clinton Street." 

On February 10, 1909, Sam Wah's laundry was advertised, as was Lee Sang's later.   

Defiance Daily Crescent, February 10, 1909

 Lee Sang did put a shadow over the occupation, however, when he absconded with all his patrons' laundry.  He left his shop in the Wayne Hotel building on Clinton Street in the night and fled to Fort Wayne. Although a patron notified the police, the laundry could not be confiscated and apparently Mr. Lee Sang was not found. 

Discrimination abounded toward the Chinese, even in our own local papers, calling them 'chinks' and Celestials.  A stereotype developed around the Chinese laundryman and eventually their shops closed.