Morganton's Hannah Ferree says 'Life is too short to do laundry'

As a graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in business, Hannah Ferree was presented with  a wide range of opportunities in a wide variety of locations when she finished school. 

Spurning them all, she chose to return to Morganton and to pursue, in her home community, her dream of being the same sort of entrepreneur as her grandfather, the late Ned Ferree. 

And so far, she is loving it.

 Ferree, 25, is the owner of Hannah’s Wash, Dry, Fold Service in Morganton whose motto is, “Life Is Too Short To Do Your Own Laundry.”

 Who among us could possibly argue with that?

 Ferree represents the third generation of her family in the laundry industry. In addition to her grandfather, her parents Brad and Susan have also been owners of Burke County laundries with locations in Drexel and Valdese in addition to Morganton.

 So why return to Morganton to carry on the family tradition?

 “I enjoy being a big fish in a small pond,” she laughed. “I like being in a location where I can make an impact on the community. And, a lot of it has to do with my grandfather. I admired him so much. I want to do him justice. I want to carry on his legacy.”

 Her grandfather, Ferree noted, “was such an entrepreneur. He had such drive. He started doing custodial work at Mull Elementary School when he was a student at Mull Elementary School. His customers loved him and he loved his customers.”

 So just who are Ferree’s customers in the wash, dry, and fold business?

 “It’s everyone,” she responded. “Single moms. Families where both parents work and they just don’t have the time to do laundry. Families in apartment complexes where there aren’t enough washers and dryers. Elderly couples whose washers and dryers are in the basement and they can’t get up and down the steps anymore.”

 Ferree also works with hotels in the area and with contract workers who may not have access to laundry facilities.

 Her big, industrial-level machines can also handle bulky comforters, quilts, and blankets that can lead to stalled agitators and burned-out motors on smaller, residential machines.

 Hannah’s Wash, Dry, Fold Service is located at 510 S. Sterling St., in Morganton, the last business before the railroad track. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with Friday serving as Ferree’s catch-up day.

 But just because the doors are open only 32 hours a week does not mean that Ferree works 32 hours a week.

 “Oh no,  it’s much more than that,” she said. “We have so much business that we really have to work long and hard to keep ahead of it.”

 And by “we,” she means herself and her mom Susan who helps out as much as she can.

 “She has been my savior,” Ferree said of her mother. “I couldn’t do it without her.”

 So is being a hard-working entrepreneur as much fun as she thought it would be?

 “I enjoy it,” she responded. “I love what I do and I love taking the stress away from my customers. A lot of customers want me to come home and put the laundry away from them, but I have to draw the line somewhere.”

 Bill Poteat, who doesn’t mind the washing and the drying but would rather pass on the folding, is editor of The Paper. He may be reached at 828-445-8595, ext. 2004, or at bill@thepaper.media.