Trio Steam Laundry
Also known as: Atlanta Brush Company
Why it's listed
Near downtown Atlanta, at the corner of Hilliard and Tanner Streets, stands a one-story brick building with a basement that was built around 1905 as a steam laundry. Its load-bearing brick walls, pilasters, corbeled cornice and large metal pivot windows give it an orderly, unadorned look, and polychromatic brickwork edges the pilasters and window arches, a feature few Georgia industrial buildings share. Trio Steam Laundry Company, founded in the 1890s, served local businesses and hotels from the site until the mid-1940s. In 1945 the Atlanta Brush Company, started by former laundry officer T. Clifton Perkins to supply brushes to laundries, bought the building, added an office area and stayed until 1994. In 1995 the open interior was divided into loft apartments, though the wood posts, exposed framing, original floors, skylights and the painted company sign remain. The property was recognized for its architecture and its role in Atlanta's laundry industry.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be an excellent, largely intact example of a c.1905 brick industrial building with Folk Victorian features, including uncommon polychromatic brickwork. It is also significant for its link to Atlanta's laundry industry, as home to Trio Steam Laundry and later the Atlanta Brush Company.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001122, listed September 18, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 19 Hilliard St., Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | September 18, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001122 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C.1905-1947 |
| Architectural style | OTHER/Folk Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remodeled in 1995 into loft apartments (about 20 units); current function is multiple dwelling. The Atlanta Brush Company occupied it until 1994. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 33.69250, -84.37926 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001122.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134348006
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.