Boot and Shoemakers in Schenectady

 This post was written by library volunteer Susan Cromer.

In November of 1852, a new firm named Van Epps & Poland opened up their shop at 113 State Street in Schenectady, New York. Their business was boot and shoemaking (sales and manufacturing). They opened after purchasing the stock of Wolf and DeForest (former proprietors of 113 State St.). Andrew C. Van Epps and William V. Poland joined many other boot and shoemakers in Schenectady as this lucrative business was quickly becoming one of the most profitable in the state. The 1859 Schenectady Business Directory lists fourteen boot and shoe manufacturers in the State Street area of the city. In some directories, Van Epps & Poland is listed as manufacturers and in others as sellers of boots and shoes, leading us to believe that they were both. The new business advertised inexpensive ready-made as well as custom-made footwear using quality materials and prompt delivery. The partnership of Van Epps & Poland dissolved in February of 1856. Both the creation and the dissolution of the firm were advertised in local newspapers. Van Epps continued the business for the remainder of his life. 

Newspaper announcement of the new firm Van Eps and Poland, 1852

We can view Van Epps and Poland as an example nineteenth century business thanks to a recent donation of papers to the Grems Doolittle Library. This small collection of papers turned out to be a treasure trove of information about the business of boot and shoe making in upstate New York although it covers only a snippet of time (1852 – 1855). The collection was donated by a Stockade homeowner who found them in the attic of her newly-purchased home. The neatly-folded papers (which turned out to be receipts, invoices, and orders) were bound together with a leather band. Rather than throw them away, the homeowner (luckily for us) donated them to the library. The majority of the papers indicate items ordered, received, and billed by various large suppliers in Albany and New York City. A gas bill from Schenectady Gas Works (Jan.1, 1855 – Feb. 1, 1855) gives us another view of the small business ($3.80 for the month!). Also included are a few more personal letters addressing order mix-ups, requests for payment, and late shipments which describe issues typical of running a small business.

The manufacturing portion of the firm is well-documented with many receipts and orders dated between 1852 through 1855. Van Epps and Poland purchased boot and shoemaking materials from several different firms in Albany and New York City. Many of their purchases were from three vendors in Albany: Samuel Gross, Jared Holt Leather and Findings, and G.A. Woolverton. A bill of sale dated December 7, 1852 from Anable and Smith (Leather, Oil, Finding, and Wool Store, Albany, N.Y.) records the sale of 2 dozen men’s cork soles for $3.50. On December 24, 1853, a sale of 4 ½ dozen calfskins for $102.19 was recorded. Various animal skins, leather, soles, and nails were frequently ordered as were decorative items such as braiding and ribbons. A letter from a supplier indicates that he has lambskins for sale but that the order should be placed “by return mail as they go off very fast” and he may not be able to supply everyone.

Van Epps and Poland also purchased ready-made footwear from several vendors. For example, a bill of sale dated January 5, 1854 from G.A. Woolverton and Co. (Manufacturers and Wholesale Dealers in Boots, Shoes and Rubbers, Albany, N.Y.) records that Van Epps and Poland purchased 25 pairs of women’s rubbers at 55 cents per pair for a total of $13.75. The same bill indicates the sale of 12 pairs of men’s sandals at 85 cents per pair for a total of $40.20. The number of orders indicates that Woolverton was a major supplier of boots, slippers, gaiters, shoes, and rubbers for Van Epps and Poland. While they purchased mostly from firms in Albany, one order for a dozen “silk fox gaiters” (at $1.10 each) came from A. Bragg and Co. in New York City. 

Newspaper announcement for the dissolution of the Van Epps and Poland partnership, 1856

 

The name of William V. Poland disappears from the business in 1856 when the partnership with Van Epps was dissolved. He is listed in the 1850 U.S Federal Census where his date of birth is “abt” 1817. He likely died close to 1865 because his wife, Eliza (Lake), is first referred to as a widow in the Schenectady City Directory of 1865. Schenectady census and earlier city directories show that Poland lived with his wife, Eliza, and daughter, Anna, at 104 Romeyn St., Schenectady. Records indicate that at some point, William V. Poland refers to himself as Vedder Poland (perhaps the “V.” in William V.). He is first listed as Vedder Poland, shoemaker, in a Schenectady Directory from 1860 and in other directories until 1865. We have few business records of William V. Poland after the dissolution, although there are several directory references to him as a shoemaker (mentioned above). There are no references to a new place of business with the possible exception of a mention of Vedder Poland, Shoemaker, at 85 Union St. in the 1862-1863 Schenectady City Directory. Since many boot and shoemakers were itinerant at this time, it is possible that Poland did not have a storefront but, instead, traveled with his work. 

Records for Andrew C. Van Epps (August 6, 1817 – March 20, 1899) are more numerous. His surname is variously spelled with one “p” or two. The Van Epps were a prominent Dutch family in New York State and thus church and various other records contain dates of his life events. Andrew joined another prominent local family when he married Catarina Peek in 1840. His death at 82 is recorded in Bible records and his place of burial (in a family plot in Glenville) is also recorded. After the dissolution of the firm in 1856, Van Epps continued as owner until at least 1897 under various names including “Van Epps, Andrew C. Manufacturer and Dealer in Boots and Shoes.” It is interesting that in the later directories, the place of business is listed in various locations, mostly on State St. but also on So. Ferry St. In the Schenectady Directory of 1882, E. J. Van Epps joined the business which was now located at 161 State St. Geneological records indicate that Andrew C. had a son named Edward James so it is probable that this son joined the business for a short time. A business listing is missing from an 1885 City Directory but reappears in 1886 under only Andrew (E.J. does not appear). The business listed under AC Van Epps continues to appear until 1897, two years before Andrew’s death.

City Directory Ad for A.C. & E.J. Van Epps Boots and Shoes

 

Van Epps and Poland (and other boot and shoemakers) conducted business during a pivotal time in their industry. In the mid-nineteenth century, shoemaking was listed as America’s second largest industry after agriculture. A sewing machine had been invented by Elias Howe in Massachusetts in 1848. While it would be a few years before machines were invented that could sew leather uppers together and attach them to soles, these inventions would revolutionize the shoemaking process which had had previously been done completely by hand. This invention also led to the development of shoemaking factories which replaced many (but not all) small shoemaker shops. Labor was done by “teams” or “gangs,” each of which had a particular task such attaching soles or polishing uppers. Mass-produced shoes became more popular. In the later half of the nineteenth century, Van Epps conducted business at several addresses (mostly on State St.) and it is possible that he was dividing up the shoemaking tasks to be performed at his various locations to make use of these new technologies and processes.