Laundromats are the almost exclusive province of the poor, the mobile and rootless. Almost everyone has access to a washing machine or dryer,  laundromats are vanishing in middle-class communities. I always try to stop and photograph them when I found them.

Inside, there was a couple reading the paper and waiting for their clothes to dry. They told me they live in a small trailer, there’s no room for a washer or dryer there. At first, they were wary of being photographed, then I told them who I was and showed them my blog on my Iphone.

They said they would be happy to pose. I told them I loved photographing laundromats, while they were still around. They said they loved laundromats as well, they were comfortable and safe places to them. They have a soda and read the paper and eat some potato chips from the vending machine.

The gentlemen came out to the car and urged me to come back in as I was leaving, he wanted to make sure I noticed the old Montgomery Ward “laundromat” sign outside. “You remember Montgomery Ward?,” he asked.

I said I did.