Progressive

Progressive was listed in the Green Book as “Provessive [sic]---Smithfield and Bloodworth St.” under “Tailors” in Raleigh.¹

Progressive Cleaners was located near the intersection of Smithfield and South Bloodworth Streets. The business had several branches, with this branch catering to African American customers. The only address found for Progressive Cleaners is 761 S. Blount Street, which is where the business was located just before the Green Book era, when it was managed by Blanche Headen. The manager of the business from 1946 - 1947 was A. D. McQueen.²

Alvin D. McQueen was a long-time business owner in Raleigh who briefly owned Progressive Cleaners and advertised it in the Green Book for one year. McQueen also advertised in The Carolinian, an African American newspaper based in Raleigh, from 1946-1947. McQueen operated a branch of Progressive Cleaners, headquartered at 702 E. Martin Street, that catered to African American clients. The cleaners offered one-day service and offered a satisfaction guarantee.³

McQueen was married to Alberta McQueen and lived on South State Street during the Green Book era. Frequently in legal trouble, McQueen served a prison sentence for manslaughter in the mid-1950s. He moved to Charlotte following his release, where he opened a grocery store.⁴

The exact location of Progressive Cleaners is not clear. The Green Book and newspaper note that the business is at the corner of Smithfield and S. Bloodworth. City directories list Progressive Cleaners at 761 S. Blount Street. Smithfield Street no longer exists.⁵

Essay by Brandie K. Ragghianti, 2024

Notes

1. Victor Green, 1941 Green Book, 36; Green, 1947 Green Book, 65.; Victor Green, 1954 Green Book, 53; Victor Green, 1955 Green Book, 54; Victor Green, 1948 Green Book, 63; Green, 1949 Green Book, 57; Green, 1950 Green Book, 63; Green, 1951 Green Book, 54; Victor Green, 1952 Green Book, 54; Green, 1953 Green Book, 54; Green, 1954 Green Book, 53; Green, 1955 Green Book, 54; Victor Green, 1956 Green Book, 46; Green, 1957 Green Book, 47; Green, 1959 Green Book, 52; Green, 1960 Green Book, 73; Green, 1961 Green Book, 69; Green, 1962 Green Book, 74; Green, 1963-1964 Green Book, 58; Green, 1966-1967 Green Book, 58.
2.  “Progressive Cleaners Advertisement,” The Carolinian, August 31, 1946, Page 2, North Carolina Newspapers/Digital NC, http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn80008926/1946-08-31/ed-1/seq-2/, accessed September 4, 2019; Hill’s 1945-1946 Raleigh City Directory, street listing, alphabetical listing.
3. “Progressive Cleaners Advertisement,” The Carolinian, August 31, 1946, Page 2, North Carolina Newspapers/Digital NC, http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn80008926/1946-08-31/ed-1/seq-2/, accessed September 4, 2019 [note: this ad ran through 1947]; (“Church and State Have Tilt Over Sabbath Rule,” The News and Observer, August 23, 1938, p. 28, accessed from www.newspapers.com. 
4. “Alvin D. McQuin,” South State Street, Raleigh, Wake County, 1950 United States Federal Census, accessed from www.ancestry.com; “Bones Game: Craps Slayer Sentenced,” The News and Observer, September 10, 1955, p. 9, accessed from www.newspapers.com; “Police Probe 2 Robberies,” The Charlotte News, November 2, 1964, p. 11, www.newspapers.com. 
5. Progressive Cleaners Advertisement,” The Carolinian, August 31, 1946, Page 2, North Carolina Newspapers/Digital NC, http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn80008926/1946-08-31/ed-1/seq-2/, accessed September 4, 2019 [note: this ad ran through 1947]; Hill’s 1945-1946 Raleigh City Directory, street listing, alphabetical listing; Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, Sanborn Map Company, 1914; Google Maps.