Leonard, Shaw & Dean Shoe Factory facts for kids

Leonard, Shaw & Dean Shoe Factory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	151 Peirce St., Middleborough, Massachusetts
Built	1896 (1896)
NRHP reference No.	100002733
Added to NRHP	August 3, 2018

The Leonard, Shaw & Dean Shoe Factory is an old building in Middleborough, Massachusetts, where shoes were made a long time ago. It was built in 1896 and grew bigger over the years until 1911. This factory was a very important place for jobs in the town. Today, people live there because it has been changed into homes. In 2018, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a special building worth protecting.

About the Old Shoe Factory

The former Leonard, Shaw & Dean Shoe Factory is located in Middleborough. It sits at the corner of Peirce and Rice Streets. This area has both old factories and homes.

What the Building Looks Like

The factory is a group of buildings shaped like the letter "U". Most parts are three stories tall. They are built mostly from wood. The roofs are either gently sloped or flat.

In the middle of the "U" shape, there is a brick building. This was the boiler house, where steam was made. At one end, there is also a brick tower. This tower held the elevator.

A Brief History of the Factory

The oldest part of the factory was built in 1896. Two men, Cornelius Leonard and Samuel Shaw, started the business. They had already been making shoes since 1892. Their first shoe factory was in a different building.

The main parts of the "U" shape were added later. Big additions were made in 1905 and 1911. The boiler house was built in 1907. The elevator tower was added after 1925.

In 1897, W. Henry Dean joined Leonard and Shaw. The company made shoes here until 1933. After some business changes, the shoe making moved to a different street. In the 1950s, a company called Bay State Specialties used the building. They made things for advertising.

Today, this historic factory has been given a new life. It has been changed into homes for people to live in.