By: Lauren Wu
In the year 1848, Charles, a hardworking miner, set off for California with his wife, Caroline. When his friend, Tyler, mailed him a letter a week ago that there was gold in California, he had prepared his wagon, drawn by his horse, and traveled along the dusty road to his destiny.
Charles and Caroline made camp in San Francisco, since Tyler had said he had found lots of gold nuggets there. Charles decided to buy a tin wash bin to pan and would start working the next day, while Caroline stayed home and did the cooking. They met other miners also panning for gold.
After months of panning, though, Charles had nothing to show for all his hard work. It felt like everyone around him was striking rich, but he could not find even a single gold nugget. Charles wondered how long he could continue seeking his fortune in the fields before his money ran out.
One evening, as he sat outside his tent pondering his future, he noticed Henry the storekeeper brushing his new mule. How was Henry making a fortune without ever touching a pickaxe? Perhaps, he too could make money in a different way other than mining, like the storekeeper. Before, San Francisco was only a small town with a population of about 460 people in 1847 and grew to about 5,000 people in 1855. With time, people owning stores, restaurants, and hotels would make tons of money!
Charles watched as miners grumbled about their overalls covered in grime and dust. Their wives were all the way back at their homes, and they didn’t have the time to do laundry themselves. An idea sparked in his mind. He immediately ran home and asked Caroline what she thought about his idea.
Charles was filled with excitement as he explained to his wife how her talents in washing could help with the miners’ troubles. Caroline and her husband started right away. First, Charles went to the local store and picked out soap, washboards, and basins. Then, he loaded them into the wagon and traveled back to his log cabin where he started the work. It was tough, yet he got the hang of washing right away. He learned how to sort the clothes by color. However, he had trouble folding the clothes. Caroline, always kind, taught him a trick which made the task a breeze. Charles soon found the work enjoyable and easy.
Having confidence in his washing skills, Charles bought a plot and lumber to build the store. He spent days measuring, cutting, and sanding the boards to make his store. Once finished, he decorated the interior, which had a warm and welcoming ambience. The entire room smelled of fresh paint. There were windows which let in warm sunlight. The sound of Charles and Caroline’s hands scrubbing filled the room as they cleansed some of their own clothes. He hung up a sign which read: “Charles’ Laundry Service: ‘Wash ‘n’ Clean’”. The sign was made out of polished maple wood, with bright lettering. Now, it was the moment of truth. Would anyone come to his store? His breath caught as the first customer walked in with a dirty shirt. Charles greeted the miner with a warm smile and led him into the store. He eagerly started to wash it as the miner left. At the end of the day, he held his first earnings, a small but important victory.
Soon, Charles’s store was buzzing with customers from dawn to dusk, all wanting their clothes washed. He and his wife both tackled the mountain of laundry, their hands working in unison. With his earnings, Charles managed to hire a few workers. His business grew, so different from his miner days a few weeks ago.
His life was transformed. His days were filled with managing his workers, expanding his business, and earning lots of money. He was filled with the satisfaction of his hard-earned money. He depended on entrepreneurship, proving that even during a time where everyone was obsessed with mining for gold, there were other ways of earning money.