The “Ten-Footer” Shop Shop was a part of a truly cottage industry. In David Johnson’s “Sketches of Lynn” (1880), he describes the “Ten-Footer” as one measuring ten feet in length by ten feet in length with the maximum size fourteen by fourteen. In all likelihood the average size was probably closer to twelve by twelve. The attic was left unfinished and used mostly for storage.
In the age before the Industrial Revolution many Massachusetts residents had home shops in the yards where family and neighbors could earn extra part-time money by doing piece work on shoes. Women sewed the uppers and men pounded wooden pegs into the soles. These cottage industry shoe workers were paid for each pair of shoes delivered to the local distributor.
We are compiling a list of ten-footers in Massachusetts (which included Maine prior to 1820), by adding photos and/or any other relevant information. We began through outreach to both Essex and Middlesex counties but have since expanded our search statewide. Help add to the list of ten-footers by sharing your knowledge. If you know of the existence of any of these ten-footers, please let us know.
I am trying to learn about my second great-grandfather on my mother’s side. The family story is that he was born in Genoa, Italy around 1794, stowed away on a ship from Duxbury,MA. He was known as Antonio Upman and may have been known as Anthony Upman.He is said to have owned a shoe shop in the 1830’s. I don’t know if it was a ten footer or
something larger but it was probably in Duxbury or Kingston. He was purportedly a Mason and a contributor to the Bunker Hill monument. Any information would be appreciated. I think he died around 1838.
The Daniel Hunkins shoe shop sits on the grounds of the Haverhill Historical Society, also known as The Buttonwoods. It was donated by Hunkin’s grandsons in 1957 and moved to its present site at that time.
Interested to know the history of the 10-footer at 272 Essex Street in Beverly I believe it’s the last 10-footer in Beverly should it be a landmark?