Life in the real world…

- These Boots Were Made For Walking
- Let Your Fingers Do The Talking
- Education: A New Type of Teacher

These Boots Were Made For Walking

The multiple shoe factories located in Chippewa Falls added to the vitality, industry and economy of the city. For many, including our graduates, they were a place where their parents, siblings, and even they themselves worked. Margaret Porn, one of the graduates has a family that is an example of this. In 1910 her father Frank, older brothers Frank (age 24) and Peter (23), and younger brother Matt (18), and Margaret herself (21) were all shoe factory employees.53

Foshay Shoe Company, Gotzian Show Factory (Mason Shoe), Mason Shoe, Chippewa Shoe, Olson Shoe, Hand Made Shoe, and Weiler Shoe Company are the names of some of the major factories located in Chippewa Falls at different points in its history. There have been multiple other factories that have also come and gone throughout the years. With the ever growing logging industry of Chippewa Falls in the late 1800’s, the boot and shoe companies of the area were kept busy. In reality the logging companies provided directly to the growth of the shoe industry as these companies were responsible for providing the loggers with sturdy boots to support them in their various jobs.54 As a result the shoe business found great success in Chippewa Falls, and the greater Chippewa Valley.

The first listed manufacturer of boots/shoes in Chippewa Falls was Colliche Vinette. He purchased a building on Bridge Street to use as a shoe store in 1876.55 It was not until 1885 however, that the shoe factories began to take off with the arrival of the Weyenberg brothers of Appleton, WI. Today they are considered to be the first big shoe manufacturers in Chippewa Falls.56The Weyenberg Brothers Wholesale Shoe Company remained in Chippewa Falls until 1900, when the building transferred hands to the Chippewa Falls Shoe Manufacturing Company.57

The most well-known shoe factory in Chippewa Falls would be Mason Shoe Manufacturing Company. On April 1, 1904 Bernhard A. Mason with the monetary backing of his father August Mason and August Kuhrasch purchased the Independent Hand made Shoe Company, and through doing this create Mason Shoe. It was not however listed under the name Mason Shoe until 1906.58

Over the years the shoe factories employed hundreds of people from around the Chippewa Valley and Chippewa Falls itself. By being located in a central area, and having many factories open it was made possible for people such as Margaret Porn and her family to all work close to home. This not only added to the job market of the area, but also to the financial stability. Through these shoe companies thousands of dollars of revenue were brought into the community every year.59 This was not only important for the companies, but for the city of Chippewa Falls. With the decline of the Chippewa Log and Boom at the turn of the century, the area needed something to revitalize and reenergize it. The manufacturing industry became the savior of this town. The Chippewa Times reported in the year 1903 the following quote from a former resident:

It is remarkable, how the town is growing now things seem to “be doing.” The first thing I noticed was the enthusiasm of the people. A few years ago everything seemed dead. Citizens were dissatisfied or discouraged and what they said went abroad and people outside looked upon Chippewa Falls as a “dead town”, but now wherever you turned one hears of its progress, one hears only praise.60

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