Byron’s Longest Running Business by Ruth-Anne Calhou n In 1952, the ‘Boug Building’ housed a new business in the rear southeast corner. Orr Dry Cleaners was a welcome sight to our Byron family! Little did Ken Orr know that his legacy would live on for 73 years and counting. Ken hired four Byron women to work at Orr’s: Helen Campbell (who later worked in Boug’s grocery), Fran Calhoun, Olive Goodman and Helen Garner. Olive and Helen became friends and remained in contact until Olive’s death. Helen remained at Orr’s. Ken Orr passed away on July 01, 1982, due to pneumonia at age 66. His wife, Georgina, did not want the business upon his demise. In his will, Ken gave Helen the first right of refusal to purchase the business. Hence, over the years, Byron residents formed and kept a beautiful relationship with three generations of ‘Garner women.’ Helen became the face of Orr Dry Cleaners for several decades. The business thrived with the ‘Garner Women’ at the helm: Helen, her daughter Shirley Griffith and granddaughter Shelley Clair. The Byron residents adored Helen. She was a natural at public relations and a savvy businesswoman who was sincere, pleasant, and customer-oriented. She loved the dry cleaning business that coursed through her veins. In 1959, Paul Griffith started working at Orr’s, where he met Helen’s daughter Shirley, whom he married in July 1960. Paul started Orr’s delivery service, which still exists today. More drivers were hired and one of them remained there for over 30 years! Paul tended to the mechanics of the equipment and ensured the racks rolled consistently and smoothly. In 1982, due to the Boug building being torn down, Ken was asked to move the cleaners to the new plaza that was built on the former Gray and Norton properties in the Village. Paul had just renovated the Bowling Alley in the Masonic building where he started Westside Laundry, which opened in June 1990. As a cost-saving measure, it made sense to pay rent for one location instead of two, so, in about 1966, the cleaners
moved there, where it remains today. In 1998, Helen sold the business to Shirley and Paul. At that time, they Incorporated the booming business of Orr Cleaners and West Side Laundry. Helen remained working with them until October 2014, when she retired in her 90th year! Shirley purchased Strathroy Laundromat and Orr Cleaners began supplying dry cleaning services. She and Paul operated these two successful businesses until 2006, when her daughter and then owner, Shelley Clair, took over the reins. The business was called Orr Cleaners and Strathroy Coin Laundry. In 2007, Shelley opened a third Orr’s location in North London. Population growth there demanded new businesses, and all three Orr Cleaners locations were doing well, with a total staff of 22 people. When asked about some of the challenges over the years, Shelley cited the increase in the minimum wage of 65% since 2006. Hydro costs had also risen considerably over the years. Shelley attributed the success of Orr’s to having a positive work environment and three generations of ‘Garner women’ who are strongly customer-based. Over the decades, they enjoyed loyal customers with deep trust. Helen, Shirley and Shelley have made Ken Orr extremely proud! Thank you, ladies, for the dedicated service you provided us over the years! Orr Cleaners was sold to new owners in August 2023. Many thanks to Shirley Griffith and Shelley Clair for providing the information for this story.
Page 26 Byron Villager May 2025
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