Daniel Flynn’s Boot & Shoe Shop

Daniel Flynn’s Boot & Shoe Shop

Building history

In 1858, Daniel Flynn, a shoemaker, purchased “village lots #6 and #7… lot 22, conc. 1, west of Yonge” upon which he built a home and this small shoemaker`s shop. Such small shops were often referred to as “ten-footers” because they were ten feet square. They provided an economic shop from which a shoemaker and his apprentice could ply their trade. Generations following Mr. Flynn continued to operate the shoemakers shop, however, over time the building fell into disrepair and it was used as a chicken coop.

The Shoemaker

In the early days itinerant shoemakers came to the home to mend and make up shoes for the entire family once a year. It took one day to make a pair of boots and the shoemaker would stay until the work was done.

Daniel Flynn’s House. Caring for our heritage is an important, ongoing responsibility. Flynn House was built circa 1858 and located on Yonge Street in North York. Originally, it was used as both a home and a shop. The squared roof line, or false front, on half the building indicates that it was a commercial establishment. Later, the shop was moved to another building and the family moved their kitchen into the old workroom. This home is typical of those owned by members of the skilled working class in the middle years of the nineteenth century. Photo : © Elena

The terms shoemaker and cobbler are often used interchangeably. The shoemaker makes shoes, but a cobbler is really one who only repairs shoes. By 1870, factory made footwear was becoming cheaper than hand-made shoes. As a result the shoemakers did more and more repair work, leaving the creative craft behind.

Shoe construction

There are basically four parts to a shoe: the vamp, which covers the toe, instep and includes the tongue; the counter, which covers the back and sides; the sole; and the heel.

Shoes are built up over a last, which is a wooden form whittled to the customer`s foot shape and size.

The upper parts, the vamp and the counter, are stitched together with awl and a waxed linen thread. The upper is fitted over the last and the edge of the upper, an insole and a welt, a heavy leather rim, are sewn together. The sole is next sewn to the welt with the stitches lying in a shallow cut channel, a feather, that keeps them below the surface and prevents them wearing away.

Heels are built of layers of thick leather and shaped with a flat-headed hammer or in iron. Heels were traditionally fixed with wooden pegs and stitched firmly in place.

Boot shop interior. Quality Hand crafted items made in this shop are sold in the Main Giftshop located in the Visitor`s Centre of the Black Creek Pioneer Village. Photo : © Elena

Shoe size

The British shoe-sizing system is based on a barleycorn standard adopted in 1324 by King Edward II of England when he decreed that one inch equals three average sized barleycorns. To this day the length of a barleycorn represents the difference between whole sizes for shoes.

Quality Hand crafted items made in this shop are sold in the Main Giftshop located in the Visitor`s Centre of the Black Creek Pioneer Village. Caring for our heritage is an important, ongoing responsibility. Flynn House was built circa 1858 and located on Yonge Street in North York. Originally, it was used as both a home and a shop. The squared roof line, or false front, on half the building indicates that it was a commercial establishment. Later, the shop was moved to another building and the family moved their kitchen into the old workroom. This home is typical of those owned by members of the skilled working class in the middle years of the nineteenth century.