Name/Title
Shoe Found in WallEntry/Object ID
38.25Description
Material: leather, metal, textile. Show Size: estimate: 4" x 10". Case Size: 7" x 13" x 7 1/4" H. The image shows a well-worn, distressed shoe that appears to be very old, with visible signs of wear and tear, such as scuff marks and frayed laces, a faded and dusty surface. It appears to be the left shoe worn by a man probably between 1850 and 1860.Context
This shoe was found by the donor, a new owner of a house on South State St., Waseca, Minnesota in 2015. The new owners gutted the house for remodeling and found this shoe in a bathroom wall. It gave the family a fright because they were afraid that perhaps a whole body had been hidden behind the studs. The house had previously been owned by Judy De La Fosse.
The story behind this tradition of hiding a shoe inside a wall: Beyond protection, concealing shoes was also seen as a way to bring good luck or promote fertility within the household. This connects to other shoe-related traditions, like throwing shoes at weddings for good fortune. Shoes have a special significance in our society. They are the only item of clothing that takes the shape of the person who was wearing them. Shoes were believed to hold something of the wearer’s essence or personality even when they were not being worn. It was believed that it was this association with the wearer that could fight off evil spirits, should they attempt to come into your home. Usually there would be only a single shoe built into a wall.Cataloged By
PfenLexicon
Legacy Lexicon
Object Name
ShoeClass
Symbol, SpiritualCategory
Communication ArtifactsCreate Date
September 11, 2025Update Date
September 19, 2025
