Maine Brothers Keeping Our Shoes Looking Great

I was recently reading a story at Downeast.com about two brothers who are among Maine's cobblers. A cobbler is a person who mends shoes.  

We are fortunate in central Maine to have these two; one is in Skowhegan, and one in Downtown Augusta. 

In Skowhegan, Dick LaCasse runs LaCasse Shoe Repair, a business he took over from his father. His brother, Tom LaCasse, has Tom Finn Shoe Repair in Downtown Augusta that he bought in the mid-'80s.

The industry has changed a lot over the years, and, let's face it; many shoes are simply meant to be tossed. But our more expensive shoes, the shoes we LOVE, it is nice to have someone we can go to, and they keep them going. Cobblers are doing many things like resoling boots or shoes, fixing a strap on a favorite pair of sandals, and according to the story in Downeast Magazine, they can build shoes with different sole highs to custom fit those shoes to fits the need of their client.

I have used Tom Finn Shoe Repair in downtown Augusta a few times. I have this pair of fuzzy Mukluk winter boots I love.  My boots have this lace-up detail on the toe and up the front. Each of the loops has come loose at some point. So those first few years I owned those boots, I had them in the shoe a few times to get the loops re-attached.  

The story at Downeast.com is great and high-lightes two guys keeping this art alive. And the photos are great…but what else would you expect… Dave Dostie of Augusta did them. He is a fantastic photographer.