An archival newspaper article from the Newburyport News, from the Newburyport Public Library and available on their website -
Shoe Making in Olden Days
Newburyport News 4-17-1903
The evolution of a shoemaker is a most interesting study,’ remarked the retired shoe manufacturer to an exchange 'The shoemaker as a man, has |undergone many changes in three generations right here in Lynn, and a
shoemaker before the war would be likely to lose his fingers in the machinery, if he got a job in a factory of today, while the shoemaker of today would be like a rider of a 20th century bicycle on an old-fashioned high wheel, if he were suddenly thrust into a “10-footer,’ or shoe shop, of before the war. Times have changed, and men have changed with them, or, rather, men have changed the times.
Whittier idealized shoemaking of the old school in his poem “Cobbler Keezar’s Vision” in which he tells of Keezar upon the hillside, upon his form, and his pan of coals on either side to keep his waxed ends warm.
“and there in golden weather
he stitched and hammered and sung
In the brook he moistened his leather
In the pewter mug his tongue,”
Try to think of a shoemaker of today sitting on the hillside and hammering and singing and moistening his leather in a brook, not Strawberry brook, either, and you will discover the difference in the schools.
The old-time shoemaker labored in his ten footer in his back yard, using few and simple tools, and doing everything by hand. He worked from sunrise to sunset, and sometimes by candle or whale oil light. He made with the help of his apprentices and perhaps his wife, who sewed uppers for him, a case of shoes a week, and Saturdays he carried the shoes to the factory to get his stock for the next week, and his pay, seldom cash, and often an order on the store.
Now the shoemakers of this school were reputed wise men. Their work did not call for concentration of the mind, and they read or talked as they worked. The Bible and the dictionary were the principal literature of the old shop, so the shoemakers could not help absorbing solid wisdom, and all the leading subjects of the day were discussed.
“We can only consider the shoemakers of the old school as a wise and good men, sort of a sound foundation of the new school. Unlike the shoemaker of today, the old timer had no complicated machinery to understand, nor no wages and hours of labor system to fairly adjust. He had plenty of time to work and play, and his wants were few. The old timer did not require the skill nor the accuracy of the shoemaker of today. Shoes were made on straight lasts and many measurements and much cutting, sewing and shaping of the shoe was done by the eye. Shoe wearers were not so particular about the fit and style of their shoes in old days.
“The old timer made a whole shoe himself, the shoemaker makes only a part of the shoe, there being 98 operations and one man to each operation in making a shoe today. The old timer had his ten-footer, the shoemaker of today has his six-story brick factory. The old timer had his lap stone, his hammer, stirrup, whet board, pincers, short sticks, long sticks, knives, scraper and a dozen other tools according to his wealth, the shoemaker of today, has his cutting board and knife, his sewing machines, pulling over machines, lasting machines and a dozen and one other complicated devices in place of the simple hand tools. The shoemaker of the old school put out a heavy shoe to wear well, the shoemaker of today must make a shoe to meet the demands of the season and the fancies of fashion. The old timer worked by candle or whale oil light; the man of today works by gas or electricity when necessary. The old timer knew nothing of elevators, steam heated factories, telephones, electric cars and a dozen and one other common conveniences of the shoemaker of today.
Now, the point I want to make by this long comparison is that today provides more and demands more from shoemakers than did the old school. The shoemakers of today cannot begin at the trade where their fathers did, but must begin where their fathers left off. Therefore, the shoe trade is constantly demanding men of greater skill and intelligence, and by reason of this increased skill and intelligence the shoemakers are receiving increased pay. Although reports of cuts in wages are occasional, yet the general tendency of wages in this country has been to advance, and statistics prove it. Now this increased skill, intelligence and wages is bringing to each and every shoemaker a greater amount of worldly comforts.
We cannot look back on the old time school and say shoemakers enjoyed as much as they do today. As I have pointed out above, the old timers never know about telephoning, riding in electric cars and steam heating of shops. Besides they seldom saw a newspaper, had but few good books, had small churches, never dreamed of the splendor of a 20th century theatrical production nor a summer resort, nor of a thousand and one luxuries of shop, home and city offered the shoemaker of today. But they were happy because they did not know of these good things.
This increase of skill and intelligence brings a duty home to every shoemaker and each duty has its rewards. The increase of skill and intelligence not only results in a better shoe, but it causes a greater distribution of machinery, wealth and comforts, which is then a man of skill and dexterity of life. The shoemakers have changed from men of skill and dexterity of the hand and eye and of simple habits and wants to strenuous workers of the 20th century, masters of complicated machinery, producers of an article of necessity, comfort and beauty at a reasonable cost, and participants in the enjoyment of the many advantages and luxuries of an increasing civilization, of which their predecessors of two generations ago knew nothing.
“The shoemakers of today are bigger men that their grandfathers, have a superior skill and training and also greater responsibilities.”
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Thursday 4/16/1903
Funeral of Luther Lord.
The funeral of Luther Lord took place from his late home on High street yesterday afternoon at 2:00. There was a large number of sympathizing friends and relatives present at the services. Mr. Lord passed away on Sunday after a long illness. He was for years employed as a grave digger and care taker at the cemeteries.
Mr. Lord was born in Ipswich, Aug 29, 1819, and has always resided in the house wherein he died. He was one of a family of eleven children and one sister, Miss Susan Lord of North Main street is the only remaining member of the family.
The parents of Mr. Lord were both born in town and were life long residents here. Mr. Lord was married three times, his first wife being Miss Martha Seward of this town, and to them two children were born, Mrs. Wm P. Ross and Luther a. Lord, both of whom are now alive. His second wife was Miss Elizabeth Seward, a sister of his first wife, and after her death he married Miss Sarah E. Archer, who now survives him. By trade Mr. Lord was a shoemaker. Of late years he has not followed up his trade but has acted as superintendent of the Locust Grove cemetery. He was a man of noble character and made many friends for himself. Although well advanced in years he retained his faculties up to the time of his death. He was a kind father and a true and devoted husband and for years was a regular attendant at the Methodist church.