The origins of the Paris’ Shoe Tree!

Hi George! Thank you for your question about the history of the Great Paris Shoe Tree. It's an intriguing story indeed, and I'm excited to share it with you and our readers

The phenomenon of the shoe tree on Green Lane in Paris, just north of Highway 2, all began decades ago with a Brantford woman named Lenora Sherk Lenora's vision took shape when she nailed her grandkids' worn-out shoes to an old somewhat dying tree. She and her husband, Bill, had a conversation about the idea, and she exclaimed, "You know what we need? A shoe tree!"

Lenora had heard about similar shoe trees around the world, some with shoes looped over branches and others with shoes tied to them. However, she decided to give the Great Paris Shoe Tree a unique twist by nailing the shoes to an already hopelessly ugly dead tree She found the perfect specimen on Green Lane in Paris and the rest is history! Little did she know that her creative idea would inspire a local tourism magnet.

Shoe trees have become tourist attractions in various locations, always capturing the attention of kids and sparking their imagination. Unfortunately, recent events have finally taken a toll on the Great Paris Shoe Tree. George discovered that it has been damaged by wind recently and not the attraction that it once was, adding a bittersweet note to our historic landmark.

In light of this, see last week’s edition to read George's article about the Great Paris Shoe Tree to this post. It will serve as a tribute to the tree's history and the joy it brought to the community

Let's take a moment to remember Lenora Sherk, the woman who initiated this unique tradition, and appreciate the peculiar allure of this remarkable roadside landmark, now a part of local history.

Thank you, George, for bringing attention to the Great Paris Shoe Tree and shedding light on its recent fate. We hope that its legacy will continue to inspire creativity and wonder in the hearts of those who encountered it Please send us your memories and pics of the Great Paris Shoe Tree either in the comments or email us at: stories@theparisindependent com ~Chris Whelan, Paris Independent Publisher