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Downtown Jackson’s Familiar Whistle |
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Friday, 25 April 2008 |
 If you happen to be near downtown Jackson and with a timepiece, have no fear. Locals have relied on Jackson Cleaner’s reliable noon whistle to sound off at 12pm for the last six years. Owners John and Tami Trevaskis were inspired to purchase a whistle of their own based on a tradition originally practiced by the old Amador Steam Laundry in Sutter Creek. Six years ago this month, the Trevaskis purchased a new boiler to power two steam-pressure whistles. The whistles have a history of their own. One was originally used at an old sawmill in Martell. The other was used as a fire whistle on Mare Island near San Francisco. Alone or in combination, the whistles pack an audible punch. The tradition of using steam whistles to mark time has been a relatively blue collar tradition for hundreds of years. Steam whistles were often used to notify factory and industrial workers of meal breaks and shift times before many could afford their own timepiece. The next time you’re in the Jackson area, listen for the reliable shrill from atop Jackson Cleaners, keeping blue collars clean since 1938.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 25 April 2008 )
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