Shoes from the Past
My August find is this darling pair of child’s leather button shoes. They would have been worn by both boys and girls.
Although it is unknown to whom they belonged these little shoes were well used. “Back in the day” shoes were made to last. They were often worn until they fell apart, especially if the family did not have wage money to buy new shoes for their children.
Many of the factory workers made small wages, as little as 20 cents per hour, maybe a little more if they had a valuable skill. For farmers, cash was also scarce.
Having a pair of shoes that could last for several children was a must. After the oldest child outgrew their shoes, they would be handed on down until their parents could afford a new pair.
Rachel Boland is a dedicated volunteer archivist and researcher at the museum
