Manchester's Shoe Industry

Famous for its dominance in textile production, Manchester was also affectionately called “Shoe City.” More than seventy different shoe companies once called Manchester home, and thousands of area residents worked tirelessly to produce some of the best—known shoes in America and throughout the world. The largest manufacturers were the F.M. Hoyt Shoe Company, maker of Beacon Shoes, and the granddaddy of them all, the McElwain Company, known for its popular brands, including the iconic Thom M...