I was wondering if anyone knows of someone still in the city who has experience with making boots or shoes. I know there were some remnants of the shoe industry that held on well into the 20th century, and that there was at least one leather goods manufacturer still in business in 1981 that got burned out by the fire. The Lynn Independent Shoemaking School educated people in the trade until at least 1975.

For a long time I have been interested in cordwaining. The transformative role shoe manufacturing had in the history of Lynn is incredibly interesting to me— and I'm acutely aware that if there is anyone left in the city that is still able to pass down the knowledge of the craft, there is a limited amount of time before the tradition could be lost. Is there anyone still out there? If so, are they working with skilled artisan hand methods, or do they have a small shop in their house equipped with some light machinery?

I know it's a long shot, but thanks in advance!