June 18, 29026 – Hartford, Wi – For nearly a century, Hartford Cleaners has been woven into the fabric of Hartford, Wisconsin. Through changing times, evolving technology, economic challenges, and generations of customers, one constant has been the dedication of Jerry Wannow.
Now 86 years old and recently retired, Wannow closes a remarkable chapter not only in his own life but in the history of one of Hartford’s longest-running businesses.
Hartford Cleaners traces its roots to 1930, when Frank and Ella Otto opened the business in the Millstream Building along the Rubicon River.
In those early years, clothing wasn’t even cleaned in Hartford. Garments were loaded onto a train, transported to Milwaukee for cleaning, then returned to Hartford where they were pressed and prepared for customers.
By the mid-1940s, the business installed its first dry-cleaning machine and began processing garments locally. In 1957, Frank Otto Jr. built a new location at 32 W. Sumner Street, where the business continued to grow.
The next major chapter came when Jerry and Carol Wannow purchased the business and eventually built its current home at 107 W. Sumner Street in 1989.
“I put this building up here,” Wannow said with pride. “Everything was different back then.”
Different is a word Jerry uses often when reflecting on nearly seven decades in the industry.
His own story began long before he arrived in Hartford.
“I started in the cleaning business when I was 10 years old,” he said.
Growing up in Chicago, Wannow worked at the Sheraton-Park Hotel, collecting garments for cleaning. The opportunity came through his father, who spent 70 years in the cleaning industry. Later, the family moved to Minnesota, where Jerry eventually operated cleaning businesses in Watertown and Cokato.
At age 28, seeking opportunities in a larger community, he made the move to Hartford.
The industry he entered bears little resemblance to today’s operation.
“The chemicals we use today are a lot different than they were years ago,” he said. “The environmental restrictions that are in force today never were years ago.”
He remembered when all dry-cleaning equipment was manufactured in America. Today, much of that equipment comes from overseas. He has witnessed countless changes in fabrics, cleaning methods, customer expectations, and regulations.
Yet through all the advances, the business remained centered on people.
Wannow became known not only for everyday dry cleaning but also for handling special garments such as wedding dresses, which required extra care and expertise.
Over the years, he diversified to keep the business thriving. He cleaned carpets, operated a custom drapery business, and even sold Greyhound bus tickets when the buses stopped downtown.
“You did what you had to do,” he said.
His determination helped Hartford Cleaners survive periods when many competitors closed their doors. The industry faced major challenges during the economic struggles of the 1970s and again during COVID-19, when remote work dramatically reduced demand for dry cleaning.
Through it all, Jerry credits one person above all others: his wife, Carol.
“We were married 60 years,” he said. “I was very fortunate.”
The couple met at an Easter dance on March 29, 1959. Jerry still remembered the exact date. Together they built both a family and a business, raising three children while serving generations of customers.
Carol was a partner in every sense of the word. She worked alongside Jerry at Hartford Cleaners, taught at St. Kilian School, participated in the Lions Club, and volunteered throughout the community.
When Carol passed away five years ago, it marked one of the most difficult periods of Jerry’s life.
For years afterward, he continued operating the business, often working nearly 70 hours a week.
“My kids said, ‘I think it’s about time you sell,'” he said with a laugh.
Community service was another defining part of the Wannows’ lives.
Jerry has been a member of the Hartford Lions Club for nearly 50 years.
“When I started, I was the youngest,” he said. “Now I think I’m the oldest.”
The couple volunteered with the Hartford Christmas Committee, cleaning donated winter coats for families in need. They contributed countless hours to civic projects and community events, always willing to lend a hand.
Their commitment reflected an era when business owners knew nearly every customer by name.
“We knew almost everybody in town at one time,” Jerry said.
He remembers when Highway 60 was only two lanes, when filling stations lined downtown streets, and when customers parked directly in front of businesses before heading inside. He remembers local banks, hardware stores, and family-owned shops that have long since disappeared.
He also remembers the move to the current building in 1989.
The transition became a community event.
“We had 25 or 30 customers carry clothes across the street for us when we moved,” he said.
That gesture perfectly captures the relationship Hartford Cleaners built with the community over the decades.
As Hartford approaches the 100-year anniversary of Hartford Cleaners, the numbers are impressive.
Frank Otto spent approximately 70 years in the business. Jerry’s father spent 70 years in the industry. Jerry himself has devoted nearly 70 years to garment care.
Together, that represents more than 200 years of combined experience spanning three generations.
Yet Jerry’s legacy cannot be measured solely in years.
It can be found in the wedding dresses carefully preserved, the customers greeted by name, the coats cleaned for families in need, the Lions Club projects supported, and the example of perseverance he set through decades of change.
Retirement may have arrived, but anyone who knows Jerry suspects he won’t slow down for long.
“I always say I’m really not retiring,” he said.
Hartford Cleaners remains a lasting symbol of community, hard work, and hometown pride—nearly 100 years after it first opened its doors. On April 8, 2026, after 57 years of owning and operating Hartford Cleaners the keys were officially passed to new owner Tori Krusing. A champagne toast and small gathering of Tori’s family celebrated this incredible milestone.
