Well, here's an 'everyday' family treasure, a shoehorn. This was one of my dad's - now it's mine - and yes, I do use it.
This one must have been an advertising giveaway at one time. It reads:
Cheramy's Shoe Store & Repairs
904 Brunette St.,
Maillardville, B.C.
Maillardville is the name for the French-Canadian settlement that grew up around Fraser Mills, now in Coquitlam, B.C., within walking distance for me. Dad might have known someone in business there, but never lived nearby.
My dad always was careful with his shoes. He used a shoehorn to put them on; put wooden shoe trees in them at night so they'd keep their shape longer, and polished them regularly. As I child, I thought that was his army training, but likely he was taught to do that earlier.
(Why are shoe trees called trees? I don't know but here are some shoe trees that would have made my dad smile.)
3 comments:
I love shoe related artifacts. Thanks for sharing. Isn't it interesting how a marketing "give-away" item can become so meaningful down through a family history. Take good care of it, and be sure all your children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces know the story!
Keep those ancestor stories coming!
Bill ;-)
http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
My great-uncle was the owner of the shoe store. His name was Emile Cheramy. He was an immigrant from Belgium. He arrived in Canada in 1907.
Thanks for the picture.
Irène Cheramy
How very nice to hear from you, Irene. Thanks for commenting.
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