In past issues, we have shared with you some of our more unusual items. Many made obsolete because of improvements in medicine and technology. These items are always fun to share with the public because they are not immediately recognizable and they quickly point out how much some things have changed in the last 100 or more years.

Another category of objects donated to the collection relate specifically to Hinsdale. These items may date to the Victorian period displayed in the Museum or they may be of a more recent vintage. Regardless of their age, these objects capture a snapshot of a by-gone era within the Village of Hinsdale.

In October, the Village Bootery closed its doors after 40 years of doing business in Hinsdale. Prior to the Village Bootery, this storefront contained Karlson’s Shoe Store. From its construction in 1898 until October of 2007, 52 South Washington Street, housed a shoe store. Cheryl Frey of the Village Bootery donated the old treadle sewing machine and shoe-making stand that was used by Karlson and Sons to make shoes. She also donated several pairs of shoes that were made by Karlson, using this same equipment.

This building will someday contain a new business, but we now have the tools and equipment, along with priceless photos in our archives collection, which allow us to preserve an element of Hinsdale life which we can share with our visitors.