Los Angeles
County
Biographies
GERALD
W. (JERRY) and HARRIETT PARMENTER
Gerald
(Jerry) and Harriett Parmenter are the owners of De Luxe Cleaners at 510 North Garfield Avenue in
Alhambra. They are two of the most successful
business people in the district, and since 1937, when they started operating
their cleaning establishment, till to-date, their business has increased at
least tenfold, and they are proud of their many satisfied customers. Since 1947 they have been operating their own
cleaning plant. Besides courteous
attention, helpful assistance and prompt service, Mr. and Mrs. Parmenter guarantee expert workmanship in cleaning, dyeing,
pressing, laundry and reweaving. Their
business motto is “For Those Who Care.”
Mr.
Gerald W. (Jerry) Parmenter was born on October 25,
1909, in Detroit, Michigan. His parents
are John and Irene (Smith) Parmenter. The senior Mr. Parmenter
worked for the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. Jerry Parmenter
attended elementary school in Royal Oak, Michigan, and graduated from Royal Oak
High School in 1928, where he played on the baseball team.
Mr.
Parmenter came to California in 1931, and worked in a
cleaning shop in Los Angeles. This was
during the Depression. His next job
lasted 5 months as a presser in a ladies dress shop. Another job followed, a year in a cleaning
shop. In 1934 he worked in a cleaning
establishment in Glendale. Then he went
back to Michigan for a year. In 1937 he
started his own cleaning business at 26 North Garfield Avenue in Alhambra,
called De Luxe Cleaners, which
was just a call business. But in 1940
due to increased business Mr. Parmenter opened an
additional store at 510 North Garfield Avenue in Alhambra, and finally in 1947,
he added the operation of their own cleaning plant.
Mr.
Parmenter married Harriett Barrett in the Chapel of
the Roses in Pasadena on December 21, 1948.
Their six children are: Jo Ann
(Mrs. Bobbie) Brown, who lives in Lebec, California;
Stanley Roy Jones, who is in the Forestry Service, and lives in California Hot
Springs; David works for the telephone company and lives in Altadena,
California; Stephen is employed by the Foothill Disposal Company and lives in
San Gabriel; Geraldine and Gloria, nine years old and identical twins, attend
Garfield Elementary School in Alhambra.
Mrs.
Parmenter’s parents are Calvin and Grace
Barrett. Her father was a farmer and
cement contractor. Young Harriett Parmenter attended Earlimart
Grammar School, and also attended Bakersfield High School in California. The Parmenter’s
attend Oneonta Congregational Church in South Pasadena, where Mrs. Parmenter teaches Sunday School. She is also active in the Parent Teachers
Association. Mrs. Parmenter
is a full partner in the firm “De Luxe Cleaners.” She has been in the cleaning business for the
greater part of her life, and accepts her full share of responsibility in the
partnership.
Mr.
Parmenter was a member of the Optimist Club, the
Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce. He has been in the cleaning business for
thirty years. Although he operated stores
in three locations at one time, the Parmenter’s now
concentrate their business to one store, “De Luxe
Cleaners” at 510 North Garfield Avenue in Alhambra, and operate their own
cleaning plant.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 584-586, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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