The Perth County retailer was one of the region's more popular shoe stores in the early 20th century

Shoes have long been an essential article of clothing. The first census in what is now Canada was conducted in 1666. It shows 20 shoemakers serving a population of 3,512 European settlers. By the 1871 census, that number had grown dramatically, with 4,191 footwear-manufacturing establishments across the country.

Early Canadian shoemakers used a variety of tools to craft each pair of shoes, including a curved knife, an awl, a needle and a wooden last. Most shoemakers worked out of their homes but often employed as many as five workers. Machinery modernized the production of footwear. The sewing machine, adapted for stitching shoe pieces, was one of the most important innovations. Over time, additional tools and devices were developed for cutting, cementing, nailing and vulcanizing the different parts of a shoe, transforming shoemaking into a more efficient and large-scale industry.

Shopping for shoes in Mitchell during the early part of the last century often meant a visit to E.S. Keeler, one of the Perth County town’s well-known establishments. The store was owned and operated by Esther Sophia Keeler, who took over her father’s........

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