| Sources |
- [S74] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume IV, 1987-1999, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), Aug 0080/0179.
Lucille Hatcher McMahan obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 23 May 2011.
Upland Chronicles: Hatcher’s Cleaners a Sevierville institution
by CARROLL McMAHAN
John Alfred and Ruby Connatser Hatcher.
John Alfred Hatcher (center) with his daughters Marina, left, and Melissa.
John Alfred Hatcher (left) holding his daughter; his mother, Marina; Ola Hatcher; and his sister, Carol Hatcher.
When John Alfred Hatcher returned home from the Navy in 1946, his mother, Ola Hatcher, suggested that Sevierville needed another dry cleaning business. At that time, Murphy’s Men’s Store was the only place in town to offer such services.
With the help of their mother, John Alfred and his sister, Carol Hatcher, established Hatcher’s Cleaners. After a dry cleaning internship with Rush Rawlings Cleaners in Gatlinburg, John Alfred operated the new business while Carol was a fulltime school teacher. Hatcher always said his first customer was Johnny Waters.
As the business grew, John Alfred hired students from the Church of God Bible Training School (the campus is now the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home).The first full time employee hired an African-American named Percell Rimel. Percell worked at Hatcher’s Cleaners as a presser, on and off, until his death in 1981.
Hatcher was born in Sevierville in 1923. He was a son of prominent barber, John Alfred Hatcher Sr., and was called John Alfred so he would not be confused with his father. His mother, Ola Houk Hatcher, was Judge Ben Robertson’s secretary for many years. He had one brother, Robert, and two sisters, Lucille Hatcher McMahan and Carol Hatcher.Both of his sisters were school teachers.
The business had grown substantially by 1954 when Ruby Connatser, a young woman who was employed at Standard Knitting Mills in Knoxville, walked in with her arms full of clothes and walked out with a date with the owner. The couple married the next year.
Ruby and John Alfred had two daughters, Marina and Melissa. After she married, Ruby began working part time at the business. It was about this time that Carol sold her interest to her brother and John Alfred and Ruby became the only owners.
Ruby still recalls the first time she was left alone at the cleaners. M.P. “Jake” Thomas walked in with pair trousers and asked her if she could get them pressed. “I am the only one here at the present time and have never operated the press” responded Ruby. “Don’t you think it’s time you learned?” replied Jake. Ruby pressed his pants and Jake left a satisfied customer. As a result, they were friends the remainder of Jake’s life.
Tragically, John Alfred suddenly died on March 26, 1968 at the age of 44 leaving Ruby with two young daughters and the big decision to make of whether to retain ownership or sell the business and find other employment.
At a time when very few women operated businesses in Sevierville, Ruby decided to keep the business her husband built. She began the day to day operations while morning the loss of her husband, who she remembers 43 years later as a good husband, father, son, provider and good Christian man.
Carl Reagan, one of Ruby’s cousins, was already working at the cleaners when John Alfred passed away. Carl was very reliable and a tremendous help to Ruby. He remained a loyal assistant until shortly before he succumbed to cancer in 2002. At the time of his death, Carl had been employed at Hatcher’s Cleaners for 41 years.
Four years after John Alfred’s death, Ruby married Clyde L. Maples, a building contractor. While Ruby ran the cleaning business, Clyde operated his construction company.
Ruby and John Alfred’s daughter, Melissa Hatcher Hanlon is the current owner of Hatcher’s Cleaners. She began working in the family business part time while in high school and has worked there full time since 1982.
Ruby, who has been there since 1955, maintains an office and reports to work daily.
Operating continually for sixty-five years, Hatcher’s Cleaners has become an institution in downtown Sevierville. The original building constructed by McMahan Brothers in 1946 was replaced by a lager modern structure next door in 2003. The staff consists of 22 full time and 3 part time employees.
Carroll McMahan is the special projects facilitator for the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a column or have comments; please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or email to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or email to ron@ronraderproperties.com
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 26 Mar 1968.
Hatcher, John Alfred Aug 19, 1923 Tn March 26, 1968
Spouse: Connatser, Ruby
Father: Hatcher, John Alfred
Mother: Houk, Ola
Duaghters: Marina, Melissa
Cemetery: Shiloh
Brothers: Robert W.
Sisters: Mrs. Lucile Mc Mahan, Carol
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 350.
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