St. Crispin's Legacy: Shoemaking in Perth, Ontario 1834-2004

During the early years of the 20th century, small towns across Canada competed to have large factories locate within their boundaries. Perth, Ontario, was no exception. In 1910, it gave the Winn family $20,000 to bring their shoe factory to town. A year later, when it was discovered that the operation was "financially embarrassed"¿and looking to have the taxpayers bail it out, all hell broke loose. It forced some of Perth's leading citizens to step forward and save an industry that, for decades to come, would be an integral part of the town."The genius of John McKenty is to help us see how our own local citizens make our lives not just interesting, but more meaningful." The Probian, October 2012.