There's No House In The World Like This One In Pennsylvania
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Christi
Author
Have you ever seen the shoe house in Hellam, Pennsylvania? It stands tall, shoe-like, against the horizon, beckoning one and all to enter…
The house was built by a shoe salesman (who else?) by the name of Mahlon Haines in 1948. He showed an architect one of his work boots and requested, “make me a house shaped like this.” Haines surely got what he bargained for.
The house is five stories tall, and has seen some aesthetic and structural renovations throughout the years, though largely adheres to its original appearance.
Mr. Haines only lived in the shoe house for a short while before moving across the street. For a time in the 1950s, a contest was held for a couple to have an all-expenses paid vacation to the house. Aside from that, renters came and went.
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Not only is the house itself shaped like a giant shoe, but the property also contains a shoe-shaped doghouse and mailbox.
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The shoe house is under new ownership as of 2015 and is open for public tours. It also houses an ice cream shop in the sole. The season runs from the first day of spring until mid-November.
Check out this video below for a behind-the-scenes look at the Shoe House. (The video features the house’s previous owner.)
Have you ever visited this odd attraction? Share your shoe house stories in the comments below.
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