[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 26, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BERGMANN'S CLEANING

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 26, 2017

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to use this time to 
recognize a local business on its 100th year in operation. Bergmann's 
Cleaning, whose main plant is located in Virginia's 10th District in 
Sterling, Virginia, provides a variety of cleaning services and is one 
of the oldest family-operated businesses in our region. Now managed by 
fourth generation family members, Bergmann's Cleaning is truly a staple 
in our community and region, and I commend the Bergmann family on their 
exemplary business practices and ability to adapt and grow throughout 
the years.
  In 1917, W.C. Bergmann decided to supplement his income as a 
lamplighter in Washington, D.C. by starting a small laundry service, 
where he, with his horse drawn truck, would pick up the clothes of his 
customers, clean and press them, and then deliver them back to their 
homes. His services quickly gained recognition, and with the help of 
his sons, he opened the first Bergmann's Cleaning store within a year 
of starting the horse drawn truck business. The number of inner city 
stores increased, but many people were moving out to the suburbs of 
Washington, D.C. and also required new services. Accordingly, 
Bergmann's Cleaning not only continued their convenient and free pick-
up and delivery service, which garnered thousands of new customers in 
the D.C. suburbs, but also expanded its cleaning offerings to include 
clothing, rugs, draperies, linens and more.
  Today, Bergmann's Cleaning's day-to-day operations are managed by E. 
Peter Bergmann, the President, and Larry M. Bergmann Jr., the Vice 
President of Sales and Operations. Under their leadership, the company 
has 20 efficient delivery and pick-up routes, ranging from Reston, 
Virginia, to Columbia, Maryland, and has a staff of 125 people, many of 
whom are constituents of Virginia's 10th District. In addition to the 
successful door-to-door service, Bergmann's Cleaners serves more than 
25 hotels in our region, uses ecofriendly and biodegradable cleaning 
products, and is responsible for the most successful annual coat drive 
in the nation. In fact now in its 17th year, the annual ``Share the 
Warmth, Coats for Kids and the Needy'' drive has delivered nearly 
500,000 coats to those less fortunate.
  In today's society, family owned businesses are essential to the 
future of our nation. It is families, like the Bergmanns, who help 
foster strong local economies by establishing successful business 
practices that can be carried out for multiple generations. While the 
services provided have changed and expanded over the years, the 
entrepreneurial attitude of the Bergmann family and common goal of 
serving their community has remained the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Bergmann's 
Cleaning for its dedication to serving our community for 100 years. I 
wish E. Peter Bergmann, Larry M. Bergmann, Jr., and the entire company 
the best in their future endeavors.

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