by pgesystems
A History of the Haines Shoe House
11:39 am in General Education by pgesystems
Once upon a time, in the County of York (Pennsylvania, that is), a wizard built a magical house that was meant to influence people to do what he wanted them to. No, seriously, it’s a true story. In 1948, the self-proclaimed “Shoe Wizard”, also known as “Colonel” Mahlon N. Haines commissioned a house to look like a work boot. It was an advertising strategy – he was trying to get people to buy his shoes by building this spectacle for all to see.
Haines was a successful businessman. His original consignment of shoes was a mere 7.00, and he worked hard to build a shoe empire that stretched from central Pennsylvania to northern Maryland. By the time Haines had the house built he owned over 40 shoe stores.
The shoe house is in Hallam Township, Pennsylvania, and it is a popular tourist attraction. Made with a wood frame, the builders then constructed a boot-shaped wire lath and coated it in stucco to create the outside of the boot. The structure measures 25 feet hight at the ankle part of the boot, 48 feet long from heel to toe, and 17 feet wide. The house boasts five bedrooms and two bathrooms across five levels.
Even though the structure was originally intended as an advertising statement, that didn’t mean that Haines didn’t want people to stay in it. It was a guesthouse for newlyweds and elderly adventurers; they were comfy because in addition to the bedrooms and bathrooms it also was equipped with a sitting area and a kitchen. Haines would pay for the accommodations. He wanted people to experience the Shoe House in person to spread his advertising message in addition to making them comfortable in his shoe house. He would supply a chauffeur, and a maid.
The house is not the only shoe-shaped thing. The doghouse, the windows (in stained glass), and the outside signs are all shoe-shaped. As for the window designs, they depict Mahlon himself, solemnly holding a pair of shoes – offering them to a demanding public. This image appears in every window. No word on whether or not this was unsettling to guests.
Haines himself was actually 73 years old when the Shoe House was built. One could suppose that he was so thrilled with his success in the shoe business that he wanted to build a monument to it. And that he wanted to continue advertising his business so that it would continue to be fruitful. And that he wanted a boot-shaped legacy.
In 1962 Haines died, and the house has changed hands several times, purchased most recently by a couple by the name of Farabaugh, and the property opened as a tourist attraction in 2004. A local author has since written a book about Haines, and groups come to tour the ground and the shoe itself frequently. Don’t you want to go experience this unique house all for yourself?
