Daly's History

In the early 1930's Walter J. Daly arrived in Seattle from Texas. He worked as a designer, painter and wood finisher.

In the mid 30's he was asked to make a wood bleaching system to use in the restoration of Seattle's historic Olympic Hotel. Soon, contractors in the area were pressing Walter to make the Bleaching System for their own work. The product line expanded, and a store was opened on Stone Way in Seattle.

It was about that time that their nephew Herb Paulson started working at Daly's. Today, Herb is one of our co-owners and can often be found in the lab cooking up new concoctions.

Walter kept his sons, Jim and Bill busy collecting the empty juice bottles that he filled with wood finishing potions. The store and the factory flourished but it became evident that the contracting business would have to go. Sadly, Walter died on his final scheduled contract job - painting the Sand Point Naval Base.

His young wife Ethel was faced with raising her sons and running Daly's. She handled both with creativity and style. By the mid 50's Daly's incorporated, added wallpaper and Ethel started teaching classes in the back room. This was the beginning of Daly's reputation as being THE place to come for expert information.

With the help of her sons and nephew Herb, Daly's expanded the retail operations into Bellevue in the 60's.

Today, Daly's Wood Finishing Products are still manufactured locally and can be found in 16 states across the US. Daly's is now in its third generation of ownership with Jim's daughter Robin Daly following in the family footsteps along with partner Herb. Daly's continues to evolve but the goal remains the same - provide only the highest quality products, increase customer satisfaction and share our expertise and knowledge.
Daly's Cares

Daly's is proud to have made donations to the following groups and organizations in the last year:

A.G. Bell Elementary

Alki Elementary

Alternative Elementary #2

Alternative School #1

Assistance League of Seattle

B.F. Day School

Bellevue Christian School

Ben Rush Elementary

Billings Middle School

Boyer Children's Clinic

Boys & Girls Club of King County

Broadview-Thomson Elementary

Bryant Elementary

Camano Island Senior Center

Catalina Association of Puget Sound

Christ the King School

Eastside Academy

Fauntleroy Children's Center

Foss Home & Village

Fred Hutchinson

Fred Hutchinson Holiday Gala

Green Lake Elementary School

Guide Dogs for Blind/Delta Gamma

Hazel Wolf High School

Highland Middle School

Hilltop Children's Center

Holy Names Academy - Cheer
Hope Heart Institute

Hopelink

Humane Society @ HappyPawsFarm

Interlake Childcare & Learning Center

Kirkland Performance Center

LATCH

Low Income Housing Institute

Loyal Heights Elementary

Madison Middle School

Montlake Elementary

Nordic Heritage Museum

NW Montessori School

Our Lady of the Lake

Overlake Hospital

Parkview Services & Provail

Patrons of Cystic Fibrosis

Puget Sound AAZK

Queen Anne Helpline

Queen Anne Cooperative Preschool

Rainier Chamber Foundation

REI Auction Basket

Richard Bennett Elementary

Roosevelt High School

Roosevelt High School Athletics

Roosevelt Jazz Booster

Sacajawea Elementary
Salish Sea Expeditions

Schmitz Park School

Senior Services

St. Alphonsus Parish School

St. Anne School

St. Benedict Elementary & M.S.

St. Bridget Parish

St. Bridget School

St. Catherine School

St. John School

St. Luke School

St. Matthew School

Swedish Cultural Center

The Center School

The Evergreen School

The Homelessness Project

The Jewish Day School

The John Hay Foundation

University Cooperative School

University Lions Foundation

UW Experimental Education Unit

WA Water Trails Association

Washington Middle School

Washington Wilderness coalition

West Seattle High School

West Woodland Elementary

Woodland Park Zoo


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