| Sources |
- [S73] Rawlings Funeral Home, Book 2, 30 Apr 1976.
Earle Harrison Sims obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 18 Jun 2012.
Upland Chronicles: 70 years of haircuts, conversation at Sims Barbershop
by CARROLL McMAHAN
On Father’s Day, sons often remember the times they spent bonding with their fathers. Among such memories etched in my mind include the trips with my dad to get a haircut.
For about 70 years, my father has been a customer of Sims Barbershop. He started getting his hair cut there when Conley Sims first opened a shop on Bruce Street in the late 1930s. When I came along he took me with him to get my haircut.
I have fond memories of riding shotgun with my dad to the barbershop. I vividly remember entering through the door beside the helical striped barber pole, the smell of talcum powder and the shoe-shine stand.
Born Dec. 15, 1908, Conley F. Sims was a one of five children of John Sims and Snapp Sims of Middle Creek.
Before he opened his first barbershop Conley assisted magician Charlie Fine, who called himself “The Great Dank.” Conley and Charlie’s brother Homer served as set up men for the magician’s shows.
Conley and Lavanna McMahan were planning to marry in about a year when Charlie Fine asked Lavanna to be his on-stage assistant. Lavanna’s duties included allowing Fine to create an illusion that he was sawing her in half.
On March 7, 1933, Conley and Lavanna were married at the home of her parents, Berthana and Fillmore McMahan and started traveling together around the country with the magic show.
After the birth of their daughter Coleen Frances in 1934, Conley decided to settle down and open his own business. At the time there were no regulations governing the operation of a barbershop so Conley bought the necessary equipment and opened a shop on the south side of Bruce Street in a building owned by Thomas H. “Doc” Williams.
Conley soon gained the moniker “Zipper Sims” because he could efficiently give a good haircut in just a few minutes. Most of the men who frequented the barbershop in those days received a shave along with their haircut. It was not uncommon for farmers to walk in for a shave and haircut who had not shaved since their last visit weeks earlier.
Sadie Trotter, a saleslady at Ed Shepherd’s Dry Goods Store, preferred to get her hair cut at the barbershop instead of a beauty salon like by most women. “A man can cut hair better than a woman,” Sadie often declared while jumping up in the barber’s chair for one of her frequent haircuts.
Known for her outrageous sense of humor, Sadie once quipped to her friends that “Zipper Sims can slap a cape around my neck and have my hair cut before my ample bosom stops shaking.”
A loyal customer ,Dexter Chambers, loved to talk about politics while getting his hair cut. Knowing that Chambers was a die-in-the-wool Republican, Conley once slipped a campaign button for a Democratic candidate on the back of Chambers' shirt.
Chambers' brother-in-law Wayne Starkey was with him and saw what Sims was doing but did not tell Chambers. So Chambers went out wearing the button on his back.
The next time Chambers came in for a haircut he said nothing about the incident. So Conley pinned another Democrat campaign button on his back. The third time Chamber walked in he said “I need to get a haircut today but you better not slap another one of them doggone Democrat buttons on my back.”
Another loyal customer Bill Burns of Wears Valley came in for his haircut one Saturday and handed Conley a quarter which had been the price charged for years. “Do you not see the sign on the wall, Bill? I have gone up to 50 cents for a haircut,” said Conley.
“You might have gone up but I ain’t,” replied Bill as he walked hastily out the door. Burns returned the next time he needed a haircut and paid the 50 cents but he never gave Conley the 25 cents from the previous haircut. Periodically Conley would good- naturedly threaten to sue Burns over the quarter but Burns steadfastly refused to pay it.
Although Conley started out as a one-man operation, he partnered at different times for a few years each with John Hatcher and Ray Haggard.
He was joined by his son Johnny in 1960 and the father-and-son team worked together until Conley retired. By this time the shop was located on the north side of Bruce Street. Conley was forced to relocate when Doc Williams decided to build a new drug store in the lot he owned.
Conley Sims passed away on June 4, 1994 at the age of 85.
Johnny Sims moved a few doors down the street in 2009 when the building in which he and his father worked together was demolished to make way for downtown renovations.
Men still gather as they have for the past seven decades at Sims Barber to talk about the weather, politics, sports and old times. And while they are there they get a haircut too!
I grew up and no longer rely on my father for transportation or money for a haircut. However I treasure the times when it was just me and my Dad going to the manly word of Sims Barbershop on Saturdays.
— 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.
- [S112] Census, 1910.
Name: Conley Sims
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Residence: Civil District 4, Sevier, Tennessee
Marital Status: Single
Race : White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Family Number: 151
Page Number: 9
Household Gender Age Birthplace
SELF John J Sims M 33y Tennessee
WIFE Kate P Sims F 23y Tennessee
SON Roy E Sims M 3y Tennessee
SON Conley Sims M 1y 4m Tennessee
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: Connaly F Sims
Event: Census
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: Winter Haven, Polk, Florida
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Birthplace: Tennessee
Estimated Birth Year: 1909
Immigration Year:
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Enumeration District Number: 0075
Family Number: 170
Sheet Number and Letter: 7A
Line Number: 9
NARA Publication: T626, roll 330
Film Number: 2340065
Digital Folder Number: 4531951
Image Number: 00713
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head John J Sims M 53 Tennessee
Wife Kate P Sims F 43 Tennessee
Son Earl H Sims M 23 Tennessee
Son Connaly F Sims M 21 Tennessee
Daughter Ruby M Sims F 19 Tennessee
Son Will S Sims M 13 Tennessee
Daughter Rachel B Sims F 10 Tennessee
Boarder Wesley Hardin M 23 Tennessee
Boarder Tom Lowe M 21 Tennessee
- [S25] Smith Mortuary Company, www.smithmortuary.com, 27 Jul 2006.
Colene Frances Fowler obituary
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name Date of Death / Age County of Death County / State of Residence Marital Status Gender Race File #
SIMS CONLEY F 06-04-1994 / 85 KNOX SEVIER / TN MARRIED M WHITE 23634
- [S1] U. S. Social Security Death Index, 412-16-2144.
Issued in Tennessee, residing in Sevier County, Tennessee
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