Long before St. Louis got its iconic Gateway Arch in the mid-1960s, the linen business was thriving in this Midwestern hub along the Mississippi River.
 
Shown above is a group of “St. Louis Towel Men on Recent Outing.” Their purpose, whether business, social or both, is lost to history. The photo appeared in the September 1917 edition of the Linen Supply News (our second issue; the magazine was renamed Textile Rental in 1979). 
 
A look at the original caption shows few if any names familiar to today’s operators, although it’s possible that some of ...