The Great Shoe Tree

The Great Shoe Tree was all started by a Brantford woman.

The odd "shoe tree" on Green Lane in Paris, just north of Highway 2 began with a pair of Lenora Sherk's grandkids shoes that she nailed to an old tree.

"My husband,Bill,and I were talking and I said. 'You know what we need? A shoe tree!'"

Apparently the Sherks have seen other such trees. According to the Internet, it's a worldwide phenomenon with some trees featuring footwear that's looped over branches by their laces and other, far fewer, trees with shoes nailed to them, such as Lenora's vision.

"The shoes are worn out so people can't get upset and the tree is very old. It's not going to hurt it. It's not even a nice tree."

The tree collected a lot of soles at one point but Lenora says some ecologists went along the road cleaning up and cleared away most of the footwear donations.

"Some people take things too far," she sniffs.

Shoe trees in other locations have become actual tourist attractions and they're always popular with kids.