While reading a Zillo article about unique houses, I saw a house I’ve been driving by every time I went to a church jobsite in York, PA. Since I was a little kid, I remember seeing the Shoe House from Rt 30 just over the York County line. Here’s the view from Rt 30.

Through the wonders of the internet, I discovered that the Shoe Wizard, Mahlon Haines, built the Shoe House in 1948 as promotion. The Shoe Wizard loved promotion, reportedly standing up at baseball games and offering a $20 bill to anyone who knew who he was.

The design of the house followed from Haines handing an old work boot to an Architect and saying, “Build me a house like this.” You’ve got to love a guy with vision. The Shoe Wizard was also a generous fellow, allowing elderly folks or newlyweds to stay free in the house for week-ends. The guest were treated like royalty by the live-in butler and maid. They also each got a free pair of shoes (worth $1.98) when they left. The front door has a stained glass portrait of the Shoe Wizard.

I’ve had a chance to build some kooky stuff in my career, but never reached the level of the Shoe House. I wonder if the guys who designed and built it are still around? I bet they have some great stories…