Take a step back in time and explore the history of traditional shoemaking and repair through this featured collection of local cobbler’s and shoemakers’ supplies. These specialized hand tools, including lasts, last stands, and burnishers, highlight the traditional process that goes into making and fixing shoes and boots. While shoemaking during the 19th century was predominantly a skilled man’s job, women and young boys could work as cobblers, mending and repairing existing shoes and boots.
In the early 19th century, shoemakers were essential in Kingston, crafting boots and shoes from local leather. The War of 1812 made their work even more necessary, as Kingston’s population and businesses doubled to meet wartime demands. Early residents of Kingston kicked off the process by turning cow hides into strong leather, essential for shoe and boot making. Tanners, like those at the Davis Tannery, which opened in 1903 on Rideau Street, dyed hides with local oak bark and dried them for shoemakers both local and beyond. The Kingston Penitentiary’s Boot and Shoe Shop, which began manufacturing in 1835, had inmates mass-producing shoes. Some inmates even came into the Penitentiary as trained shoemakers and cobblers from across Eastern Ontario, crafting footwear at the Boot and Shoe Shop for Kingston locals before the institution transitioned to state contracts in 1930.
Each featured artifact tells a story about the artistry behind the making and mending of footwear for Kingston residents of all ages and walks of life. These featured tools not only served a practical purpose, they also reflected the changing technologies of their time, blending fashion, culture and artisanal craftsmanship. From the 38 shoemakers listed in Kingston's 1855 census to the two surviving shoe repair business' still in operation as of 2025, Kingston's shoemaking and cobbling history is an expansive one. This featured collection will allow individuals to dip their toes into the local history of shoe making and repair.
