It all started in the 1990's when George Sarasin put a pair of work boots in the tree that he didn't need anymore in case someone else could use them. It was a habit that was passed down from his mother, who grew up in Kirkland Lake during the depression. Today, the tree is covered with shoes. Obviously not every pair that winds up in the tree is reused. It has suffered some damage because of the weight.
A few years ago a branch broke, and now this tree across the road has started to take shape. And so the trend continues.
People sometimes have strange ideas, why use a tree for so many shoes, bring them to the poor.
ReplyDeleteStrange habit indeed.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly where this is, Andy. I took photos of it a few years ago and posted them on my blog. You're right that someday our paths will cross!
ReplyDeleteI've heard about those, but i've never seen one.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a cool piece of art.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting idea. I hope some of those shoes have found new homes.
ReplyDeleteWauu, never seen shoe art like this and even in the middle of the road at the edge. Very amazing tree.
ReplyDeleteIt is a nice idea to leave old shoes like this, even if the tree is suffering.
It feels sort of wasteful, Andy! Are they all beyond use?
ReplyDeleteGotta love these odd traditions. We humans are interesting animals.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this before. Weird!
ReplyDeleteIn South Dakota ranchers sometimes put old cowboy boots on fence posts. There are places where there are more than a mile of boots. This shoe tree looks great, but what an odd custom.
ReplyDeleteThe idea might be sound, but really, it's thoughtless where the tree is concerned.
ReplyDeleteI have to concur with biebkriebels. I saw a shoe tree while traveling in Nova Scotia a couple years back. It was on a backroad and no one around to ask about it. Some kids in Quincy used to throw their old sneakers over the power lines or telephone wires at the end of the school year. The trees would have been a safer option. The fad faded out thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteNever seen this before. I good idea back when it first started, but, overloaded now it seems.
ReplyDeleteI've seen the odd pair hanging but nothing like this..
ReplyDeletenow that's shoe tree
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting idea. It might not be very effective for shoe redistribution, but it is better art than some things I have seen.
ReplyDeleteSomehow this is an appealing concept. I like that total strangers have engaged in social/artistic pact without ever meeting one another.
ReplyDelete