Ever since I was little and the family would travel from Maryland to Lancaster, PA I would see a very large shoe house on a hill overlooking US 30 - Lincoln Highway. We never stopped to investigate what it was until last week. On our way to meet Dan's brother for dinner outside of Reading PA we had time to spare so we went to find out what it was.
It is the Haines Shoe House built in 1948 by Mahlon N. Haines, the Shoe Wizard of York, PA.
It is modeled after a high topped work shoe and measures 48 ft long and 17 ft wide at widest part. It's 25 ft high. It has 5 levels with 3 bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen and living room. I know all this from the brochure. The shoe house was closed on this Monday.
There are shoes on the fence and the mailbox is a shoe!
Only in America!
...I love fun things like this.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard about this house. But was there an old woman who lived there? With lots of children? lol
ReplyDeleteamazing
Cathy
Interesting. Brings to mind the nursery rhyme about the old lady living in a shoe with all her children. Did the brochure say if someone actually lived there at one time?
ReplyDeleteThat is one for the books. Sorry you didn't get to tour, I would wonder if furniture is also shoe-themed!
ReplyDeleteThe mailbox looks a bit down at heel, but I'm sure you got a kick out of your visit.
ReplyDelete(OK, I'll shut up now)
A fun post. I don'tthink I have ever seen anything like that. What a pity it was closed.
ReplyDeleteI have seen this on a website about the back roads of America ... Not sure if it's still available, but had a lot of curious roadside attractions across the country!
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the inside would have been like, but I would think that seeing the outside was the main thing.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! I think you will have to go back when its open and take more photos. It’s the only way most of your readers will ever have a tour of a shoe house!
ReplyDeleteSo strange. Was it a business or a home? What motivated the builders?
ReplyDelete