NEWSLETTER
Utica, N.Y. - Utica shoes! Who knew? Many people do not realize that Utica once had a thriving shoe manufacturing industry, producing as many as two thousand pairs daily. The factories were located within a few blocks of each other near the train station. Find out more on a walking tour of Utica’s historic shoe district with the Oneida County History Center Saturday, August 5, 2023. The tours start from the History Center table inside the REA wing at the Oneida County Public Market at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
The first shoe factory in Utica was opened in 1837 by John Cantwell. Large-scale factories flourished in the 1870s and 80s when Utica made 1,500 – 2,000 pairs of shoes daily. Nearly all the factories here made high-quality women’s and children’s shoes.
In its heyday, Utica shoes had a reputation throughout the United States and sold readily. The shoe factories expanded and multiplied and employed over two thousand people in Utica by 1880. Shortly after, however, troubles began with organized labor, whose demands were such that it became impossible to manufacture shoes at a profit in Utica. By 1893, many of these prosperous shoe factories had closed their doors or moved away from the city. The Hurd Shoe Company building still stands as the last vestige of the shoe industry in Utica.
The Oneida County History Center is a private 501(c) (3) not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history, heritage, and culture of the Greater Mohawk Valley for present and future generations. Admission to this program is free for the general public; donations are encouraged. Please contact the History Center at 315-735-3642 or visit www.oneidacountyhistory.org)n.
Event Date: Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m
Event Location: Tour starts from the REA Wing of Union Station, 321 Main Street, Utica, New York
###
Image: Reynolds Brothers First Shoe Factory in Utica
Contact:
Patrick Reynolds, Director of Public Programs
315-735-3642