Dartmouth Woman’s Past Resurfaces at New Bedford Laundromat

What started as a routine Monday morning trip to Diman Laundry on Hillman Street in New Bedford turned into a blast from the past for Dartmouth resident Brittany Brasells.

“I bring my laundry in every Monday morning,” Brasells said. “When I walked in today, the owner, a sweet older man, pulled out a newspaper and said, ‘I have a paper with your picture on the front holding your diploma.’”

To her surprise, he revealed a perfectly preserved edition of The Standard-Times from June 9, 2005. The front-page story? The Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech graduation ceremony – her graduation day.

Brasells, now the owner of Beauty by Britt, was stunned.

“He said he found it while cleaning and going through old papers,” she said. “It was in great condition, fully intact.”

In the photo, a young Brasells beams with excitement, her fashion design diploma held high.

“I grew up in the beauty industry, watching my mom. I always knew I wanted to do hair,” she said. “Fast forward 30 years, and not only do I do hair, but also skin and lashes.”

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Now 38, Brasells has spent her life in Dartmouth, raising her two children: a 13-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. After graduating from Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech in 2005, she attended Rob Roy Academy, earning her aesthetics license in 2006.

While she’s been a regular customer at Diman Laundry for the past five years, she never expected this kind of connection.

“I see the owner sometimes. He’s always friendly and says hi,” she said.

What are the odds of a 20-year-old newspaper, in near-mint condition, featuring a front-page photo of one of his customers?

That blows my mind.

The laundromat owner gifted the paper to Brasells, who now plans to keep it as a cherished reminder of one of the most important days of her life.