Shoes, Maine, 1850-1860. Maine State Museum. Gift of Martha Sanborn, 70.82.17.
Shoes, Maine, 1850-1860. Maine State Museum. Gift of Martha Sanborn, 70.82.17.
A farmer from the Sanborn family in Gorham, Maine wore these hand-made shoes. They have small wooden pegs attaching the layers of leather soles to the uppers. Even when shoes could be purchased ready-made, shoemakers sometimes traveled the countryside to make or repair rural families' footwear.