Dear Histarchers,
Thanks for all your responses to my inquiry earlier this month. They were a
great help.
In the end we repatriated the shoes in the remodeled house.
If anyone would like a copy of the brief report on our endeavor, please
email me at [log in to unmask]
Anne



From: "Anne Grulich" <[log in to unmask]> ****

To: [log in to unmask] ****

Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2013 9:51:30 AM ****

Subject: Concealed shoes in a Maine home ****

 ****

I'm investigating a cache of four likely mid-19th to late 19th century ****

shoes concealed between the wall and chimney of a small mid-19th century ***
*

home. I have images, measurements, and descriptions if someone has ****

expertise in dating shoes. Unfortunately, there is no archaeological ****

context. The cache was discovered during extensive remodeling February 2013
****

and came to my attention when they were brought to the local historical ****

society. Tracing the deed for the property is proving difficult prior to ***
*

1916, but we have an idea of the families who used the house. There are ****

reports of additional cached shoes in two neighboring houses. ****

 ****

I've found several intriguing articles online about the practice of hiding *
***

shoes in New England, but nothing specific about dating shoes. We are ****

considering 'repatriating' them to honor practice so I'd love to have a ****

better idea of when the shoes were made. ****

 ****

Thanks. ****

 ****

Anne Grulich ****

[log in to unmask] ****

 ****

Four leather shoes: ****

 ****

Shoe A: ****

11" long x 4 ½" wide x 2" high at the heel ****

Stitched leather upper, 1 shoelace hole on each side, remains of shoelace **
**

present; sole 'pegged' in single row to upper leather. Repaired with hand **
**

sewn leather patch on left front. Flat toe. Heel. ****

 ****

Shoe B: ****

10" long x 4" wide x 2" high at the heel ****

Stitched leather upper, 1 shoelace hole on each side; sole stitched to ****

leather upper inside shoe (not pegged). Rounded toe. No heel. ****

 ****

Shoe C: ****

8" long x 3 ½" wide x 2 ½" high at heel ****

Stitched leather upper, 2 shoelace holes on each side, string tied through *
***

holes. Sole 'pegged' in single row to upper leather. Flat toe. No heel. ****

 ****

Shoe D: ****

6 ½" long x 3" wide x 2" high at heel ****

Stitched leather upper, 3 shoelace holes on each side; sole 'pegged' in ****

single row to upper leather. Flat