Mahlon Haines

Mahlon N. Haines
Born March 5, 1875
Old Washington, Ohio
Died October 1962 (aged 87 years)
Alma mater Maryland Agricultural College
Known for Shoe sales, philanthropy

Mahlon Nathaniel Haines (March 5, 1875 – October 1962) was a well-known businessman and philanthropist in York, Pennsylvania. He is most known for having built the Haines Shoe House just east of York in Hallam.

Early life

Haines was born in Old Washington, Ohio on March 5, 1875. His father died a few months later.[1] His widowed mother, Elizabeth A. Haines, moved to Washington, D.C. in 1882 where the family lived above a store she owned on 11th Street SE;[2] it was there that Haines worked for much of his early life. The store's profits helped pay for his education and Haines enrolled at Maryland Agricultural College (now known as the University of Maryland) in 1892.[1] That same year, his mother built a much larger department store in Washington, advertised as "the largest store in the world, built, owned and controlled by a woman".[2] Haines left college in 1894 to begin his adult life.[1]

Business

Arriving in York, Pennsylvania in 1905 – the year he turned 30[3] – Haines initially rented a 3rd-floor apartment at 473 W. Market Street.[4] After borrowing money to begin a business, he was bankrupt within two years. He then obtained a consignment of shoes for $127 from the local D.S. Peterman & Co. With a combination of hard work and gimmickry, Haines became very successful in the shoe business.[3] A particular gimmick for which he was known was his use of a customized Ford as a mobile retail store, which he would drive to the outer edges of town to show his products.[1][5] By 1917, Haines had made enough to buy a 211-acre (85 ha) farm east of York[6] which he named Haines Acres,[5] along what would later be named Haines Road.[6] He built his home on the farm in 1922,[5] the year he accumulated 30 stores.[3] By 1931, Haines had the largest shoe store chain in the United States,[5] and there were 50 Haines Shoe Co. stores across Pennsylvania and northern Maryland by 1935.[1][3]

Philanthropy and legacy

Haines regularly gave back to his customers and community. In 1922, Haines ran as the Republican candidate from Pennsylvania's 22nd District to the U.S. House of Representatives, though lost to Democratic challenger Samuel F. Glatfelter. In the late 1920s, Haines donated a plot of land which became part payment for the first permanent Springetts Fire Company station.[7] In 1938, Haines hosted a celebration to commemorate his 33 years in York. Applying his "Shoe Wizard" nickname, he placed a half-page ad in newspapers throughout York County announcing a week-long series of entertainment for the public at his expense.[3]

Haines owned 300 acres (120 ha) of fields and woodlands in eastern York County and beginning in 1941, he hosted a special "Haines Safari" gathering of area Boy Scouts there about every five years to celebrate his birthday. After the fifth such gathering in 1960, Haines donated the land to the York-Adams Area Council of Boy Scouts. Known as "Wizard Ranch", the scouts have year-round camping on the grounds and continue to organize "Wizard Safari" events there every four to five years.[8] Haines received the Silver Antelope Award from the scouts in 1944.[9]

It was in 1948 that he built the Haines Shoe House in Hallum with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room. Modeled after a work boot and outwardly self-advertising, Haines lived in the house briefly before using it to host older couples and honeymooners, providing them with a free weekend in the house, the service of his staff, and a free pair of shoes.[1] In late 1948, Haines "took a very active part in the Chapter meeting of Agricultural alumni" at his alma mater and stated "he would personally pay the subscription cost for any agricultural alumnus who did not feel financially able" to request the alumni publication.[10]

Haines sold his York home to a local surgeon in 1952. The surrounding farm was sold to local real estate firm Epstein & Sons in November 1953, and it was developed into the Haines Acres subdivision. He gave $2500 to the Boy Scouts in exchange for the housing development being named after him. The original home was ultimately demolished and its land became part of the development in the 1970s.[5]

Haines died in October 1962 and gave his "shoe house" to his employees.[11] It has since had a series of owners and is currently a museum and gift shop open on weekends from March to October.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 rhopman (October 27, 2011). "There was an alum who lived in a shoe ...". Special Collections at the University of Maryland. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Barracks Row Heritage Trail: The Crossroads". culturaltourismdc.org. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Smith, Stephen H. (April 25, 2014). "The Shoe Wizard celebrates 33 Years as a Yorker". York Daily Record. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ Otto, Chris (April 11, 2011). "More about F.W. Behler from current owner David Yates". papergreat.com. Retrieved May 2, 2016. Mahlon Haines rented the 3rd floor apartment at 473 [W. Market St.] when he first moved to York.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Haas, Shauna J. (August 5, 2008). "Pennsylvania Historical Resources Survey Form: Haines Acres" (PDF). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Bureau for Historic Preservation. Continuation sheet 9. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Location of Strickler's Cemetery in Springettsbury Township". York Daily Record. September 22, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ Smith, Stephen H. (July 14, 2013). "What do Fire House, Woozy Moose and Casablanca have in Common?". York Daily Record. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Wizard Ranch". New Birth of Freedom Council, Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  9. ↑ "2015 Silver Antelope Awards" (PDF). Atlanta: Boy Scouts of America. May 22, 2015. p. 14. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Homecoming and Silver Threads: From 1897". Maryland. Vol. XX no. 1 (University of Maryland). November–December 1948. p. 2. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  11. ↑ Raffaele, Martha (October 19, 2003). "There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe ...". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  12. ↑ Smith, Stephen H. (March 23, 2015). "The Shoe House Is OPEN". York Daily Record. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
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