Laundry Bin

A large wicker basket with the name HARRIS stamped in black letters on the side. It is sitting on a blue floral rug.
Laundry bin from the Eldon House collection

Country of Origin: Canada
Year: ca. 1890
Materials: Wicker 

The Eldon House servants did some of the family laundry onsite, including using a large laundry tub in the basement. However, finer items were often sent to one of the launders in downtown London. When items were sent to the launders, they would be placed in a laundry bin that had the family’s name and address on it so their items would be returned. This wicker basket would have been loaded with the family’s laundry and picked up by cart to be taken to the local laundry. The pieces would be returned in the same way, cleaned and ironed.

We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron. We honour and respect the history, languages and culture of the diverse Indigenous people who call this territory home.

We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.

The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures, and customs.