29. Work Shoes

According to the donor, this pair of leather shoes with aluminum soles belonged to Edward Horner (1833-1927) of Rockville. The boots were made by the Overland Shoe Co. in Racine, Wisconsin, c.1915-1925, during which time Horner farmed in the area known as Maryvale (near Horner’s Lane), now within the northeast city limits.

The shoes are well used, the cleats on the heavy-duty riveted aluminum soles almost completely worn down. Each sole is marked “Overland Shoe Co, Racine Wis, Pat Dec 8 1914.” A 1916 advertisement called Overland Aluminum Work Shoes “best by test for all farm work,” asking the shopper to “throw away those leaking leather shoes, those waterlogged wood sole shoes or cold rubber boots.” Addressing a likely concern, the ad claimed that with thick felt insoles “no metal touches you.” A 1917 advertisement declared that the boots will “save money and prevent sickness,” describing them as “water proof, rust proof, rot proof. Warm in winter, cool in summer... Comfortable to wear.”

The Horner family moved from New York State to Montgomery County in the late 1850s, settling on a farm in the Rockville area around 1865. In the late 1870s, the four sons purchased an existing mill along Rock Creek, but it was closed around 1890. In 1900, two widower sons, one daughter, and two sons who never married, including Edward, were living and working at the Horner family farm. Edward, the last surviving sibling, died in 1927.

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