Shoemakers #1

“Shoemakers are generally hardworking, thrifty, they like order and cleanliness” ***** There are many shoemakers and cobblers in the family tree on the Kaszucki side. In fact, Jan Raczkiewicz tried shoemaking in Grand Rapids in 1915 The picture is of an unknown shoemaker in 1914 at Adolph Montrim Shoe Repairer at 316 Bridge St. NW. Jan worked there for a short time. ***** Villages had many shoemakers and they owned homes and farms. Many had a maid. The shoemaker used the flesh of the pig for meat and the husband used the bristles on the pig for sewing boots and shoes and the skin for the leather. Another way they got leather was to buy cow leather from a tanner or from a merchant who purchased the leather for resale. ***** Shoemakers made strong and expensive boots made to order. They also brought ready-made ones to weekly markets to sell. Families made minor repairs themselves and had a shoemaker’s awl and homemade awl in order to do this. Cobblers would go to the neighborhoods of the peasants to perform shoe repair. ***** The skills of the trade were learned in shoemaking school under the guidance of a master. It included an apprenticeship where skills were learned such as taking measurements, sewing leather on a machine. The town of Tomaszow likely had an association with which the shoemakers needed to register. ***** Sources: P. 84 -85 Memoirs of a Peasant” Jan Slomka and https://www.historiaregionu.org/uhnow and https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10159147737384730&set=gm.1763933803786817