The LAUNDERER’S DISTRICT
As was the case in many cities around Paris, laundry was a very important industry in Clichy in the 19th century: two launderers, George Soret (elected on 3 February 1790) and Jean Paillié (1805-1815), who owned the Jean Paillié laundry shop, were elected mayors of Clichy.
Ladies in Clichy first were night washerwomen before becoming launderers. Their district spanned the Rue du Bois (now Rue Barbusse), Rue du Réservoir (now Rue Médéric), Rue des Bournaires (now Rue Paymal) and Rue de Paris.