Back in the Day
When redevelopment happens in areas that once housed dry cleaning businesses, the DNR steps in to help with any remediation needs.
WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY #15117
JODY IRLAND
40 wnrmag.com
In the 1940s, many family-run dry cleaners found they needed to make a change to how they operated. The U.S. military was fighting World War II and trichloroethylene, known as TCE, was being used more and more as a helpful agent to clean weapons and produce metal parts for the soldiers overseas. The problem for dry cleaners was that TCE was their preferred chemical. It wasn’t flammable like the gasoline that had previously been used. But everyone had a role to play in supporting the war effort. Some people started victory gardens, and others participated by collecting scrap metal and even aluminum foil gum wrappers as part of “Salvage for Victory” initiatives. Dry cleaners would do their part by finding alternative solutions for their businesses, allowing TCE supplies to be prioritized for the war efforts.