Gayle's Blog ~ Our Travels Across the U.S.: Haines Shoe House, York, Pennsylvania

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Haines Shoe House, York, Pennsylvania

Another quirky find from Roadside America, the Haines Shoe House was built by Mahlon Haines in 1948 as a form of advertisement. Mr. Haines was traveling by bicycle to Washington, D.C. where his mother lived, but broke down in York, Pennsylvania. He did not have any money so he started buying shoes and boots and then reselling them. His business was so lucrative that he decided to stay. To advertise his business, he built the Shoe House. He never lived in the house, but there were five stories with bedrooms, kitchen, sitting room, bathrooms which were for guests that stayed at the house. I'm trying to recall what the guide told us about the house and Mr. Haines, and I cannot recall everything she said about him.

The following are pictures of the house being built. The original model had a section where cars could drive through. It has since been turned into the ice cream and museum shop. There are stairs on the inside going upstairs.

These stained glass windows are in every window in the house.

One of the bathrooms

Sitting Room

Haines aboard Seniah

Haines named his yacht after himself -- Seniah is "Haines" spelled backwards.

Col. Haines and Grandson Mahlon III

They are pictured on horseback at the Wizard Ranch.

Col. Haines with Sioux Indian Chiefs -- Chief Good Lance, Chief Flying Eagle, Chief Standing Bear at a Native American gathering in 1945.

Traveling shoe store, 1921

This portable shoe stores was used by Mr. Haines as he traveled throughout the state of Pennsylvania. The body of the car is enclosed in plate glass and the shoes are displayed on three rows of shelves on either side. Fitting is done in a central aisle. The traveling store is painted in red with yellow lettering.