Shoes
Concurrent with his growing wealth building fans, Benjamin Sturtevant rented/owned a series of peg mills in New Hampshire. The small mills of Wilton and North Sandwich ultimately burned down and were replaced by a large mill in North Conway in the 1870s.
That ribbon peg mill became the town's largest employer and was sold in the late 1890s. The passing of the founder in 1890 didn't end the business since shoemaking was a solid industry in Massachusetts through WW1.
They relocated and refocused in Lynn,MA as Lynn Wood Heel, a maker of women's heels. After a decade in Lynn, another relocation sent it to Keene,NH, due to very favorable tax treatment, for an additional 10 years before Sturtevant finally divested themselves from the industry in 1921.
Approximately 50 heel styles were available.
Shoes
Concurrent with his growing wealth building fans, Benjamin Sturtevant rented/owned a series of peg mills in New Hampshire. The small mills of Wilton and North Sandwich ultimately burned down and were replaced by a large mill in North Conway in the 1870s.
That ribbon peg mill became the town's largest employer and was sold in the late 1890s. The passing of the founder in 1890 didn't end the business since shoemaking was a solid industry in Massachusetts through WW1.
They relocated and refocused in Lynn,MA as Lynn Wood Heel, a maker of women's heels. After a decade in Lynn, another relocation sent it to Keene,NH, due to very favorable tax treatment, for an additional 10 years before Sturtevant finally divested themselves from the industry in 1921.
Approximately 50 heel styles were available.
