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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1963)
t 2 g SUNDAY. JUNE 2. lit 3 1 MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFOHD, OREGON Booh Tailor-Made in Medford Are Tramping Round the World By EVA HAMILTON Mail Tribune Stall Writer There U a man in Hertford whose boots arc tramping 'round the world. On the feet of doctors, lawyers, mer chants, loggers and a few In dian guides. , From the Canadian Rockies to the oil fields of Saudi Arabia. Down the halls of hospitals in Paris, France. In the desert of Iran. And in every state of the Union, in cluding the two new ones, Alaska and Hawaii, shoes made by Wilbur L. Stevens are being worn by comfort able and busy feet. His present shop is on North Crape st. But he has worked in several locations during the almost 30 years that he has been making- and remaking boots in Medford. Ftw Yaari in Rosaburg Stevens spent a few years in Roseburg where he learned many thing: from Emit Sand' quist, formerly of Sweden, he recently recalled as he bent over his lasting jack to talk while keeping the sole in place on a leather boot. Sandqulst, others who knew him relate, made the boots for the King of Sweden s guards and was recognized as one of the best men in his line. He is now In Payette, Idaho. When Stevens, known as "Steve, the boot maker," start ed west from Minnesota, he was told if he ever got a chance to work with Ssid- quist to take it. "He was the best boot mak er on the coast," Steve de clared. Steve got the chance and he took It. Patterns Hang on Wall Hanging on the wall of his shop today are patterns of many feet. In his files are many more and on the floor arc stacked lasts, too many to count - but only two for women. The largest shoes he has made were size 14 for a lineman. The same week he made a pair of size 5 boots for a man. The widest boots he ever made, (almost as wide as they were long) were for a full-blooded German. The cus tomer said "That's what you get when a German marries a German, wide feet." Asked if this were true, that he could tell a person's nationality from the shape of liia feet, Stevens said he had never pursued the subject far enough to know. He had been too busy making the shoes to fit the feet. , Many people view shoe making as strictly an old coun try trade. In Steven's shop are many things to Justify this NEW EAEK' ENDURANCE-BUILT BY STUDEBAK.tR i I I SOME HAND 8EWN Wilbur L. Stevens, Medford boot maker, finds there is still a demand for hand sewn boots. Hunters and hikers prefer their flexibility. Seated here on an old English stool, he measures the cord In the traditional manner of shoemakers. v I e wp o I n t . The stool, on which he sits for hand sewing, is more than 100 years old and came from England. He bought it from the successor io an old English shoemaker, who came to this valley from Tonopah, Nov. Steven's favorite shoemak- tng tools are from Sweden. "Sweden has the he!. steel," he explained. "The good steel Germany uses cornea from Sweden." Been Offered Pricss Stevens has never paid fabulous prices for these tools, he prizes so highly. He has, 59 Phoenix Seniors Receive Diplomas Phoenix - Fifty nine 1003 graduates of Phoenix High school received diplomas at commencement exercises last week In the school gymnasium, Dr. Esby C. McGIll, assist ant to the president at South ern Oregon college, gave the Court Suggests Beer license for Store The Jack.ion county court Friday recommended a pack age beer license for Floyd Bubb, operator of the Brownsboro store, but not a tavern license. County Commissioner Ed win Taylor said a majority of the residents within a two mile radius of the store op posed having a tavern In their area, He made a House to house check. He suggested that Bubb wait awhile before applying for a tavern license again to allow public opinion to "cool off," Last fall a large delegation of Brownsboro residents crowded into the county court to protest granting a tavern license in that area. Later Bubb presented petitions con taining 30 signatures of resi dents he said approved having a tavern, County Judge Earl M. Mil ler said there was only "a sllijht differential" between I petitions for and against the ! tavern. Earlier, the county ' court had sugucstcd Bubb wait a year, but take out a packaged beer license. commencement address." Fol lowing the address, J, Allen Harris, chairman of ths board of education, presented diplo mas to the graduating class. Faculty award medals were presented to students making outstanding contributions to the school. They were Dor othy James, outsanding senior girl; Rickey Rlchey, outstand ing senior boy; Richard Coul ter, boys activities; Penny Simmnnds, girls activities; and Saundra Nelson, citizen ship, Rickey Richie was also presented the student body president key. Honor students were pre sented medals. They were Richard Coulter, Laura Grif fith, Dorothy James, Robert McAlaslcr, Saundra Nelson, Gall Scharfe, Penny Simmonds i and Jan Stone. ! A plaque was presented to Harris Precognition for his service on the school board. however, been offered fancy prices for them by people who have seen them In his shop. The Swedish hammer, he prefers, cost him 33 cents "You get accustomed to the feel of certain tools," he said. "You like the feel of some thing in your hand and you can do a b e tt e r piece of work." His boot making supplies many needs, that is the great satisfaction he finds in his trade. He thinks of the man with one foot one size, the other foot another; the mBn who needs one "built-up" or extension shoe --he illustrated by showing two pairs. In one pair, size seven fit one foot and size five the other. The wearer in one case needed five extended, the other cus tomer needed seven built up. Need Better Shots Then there was the day when his own son needed a better pair of shoes. Wilbur, Jr., know as "Stevie," started to school. He got his feet wet in the first September rain. Determined to get him better shoes, Stevens took over the shopping assignment. He found that his wife had cov ered the town. The kinds of shoes needed just were avail able. So, Steve made 6tevie the shoes. When he wore them to school he announced to his teacher that his father had made him new shoes. "You mean he bought you new shoes," the teacher cor rected. "No," insisted Stevie, "He made them." The teacher found out that he had. "First thing he did," Stev ens completed the story, "was try them out in a puddle. Sur prised he came home to report that his feet weren't wet." Steven's slippers for doc tors have supplied physicians in cities of the world. They were advertised In medical and dental journals. He doesn't advertise them any more, hp can't take care of the business. Person to per son advertising brings him all the business he can handle. Most of the shoes for doctors are white. However, Stevens makes them in other colors for other people, including himself. He had on a pair when interviewed. How his shoes get into so many far away places, Stevens Isn't sure. In some instances it happens through Medford friends. Someone knows some one in Saudi Arabia or Iran. In one instance, however, the contact was via Florida. Stevens said he had been mak ing shoes for a dentist in Florida, who seemed to be ordering a wide variety of sizes. He later learned that one of his colleagues in Paris, France, was getting some of them. He realized this when a doctor wrote from Paris wanting the same kind. If the Royal Mounties are wearing boots by Stevens, Stevens doesn't know it. In dian guides and hunters in Canada, however, are. They like the ones with the foam crepe soles. "Stitch down," Steve calls the boots he makes for hunt ers and hikers. They are sewn with two threads where one would do and are more flex i b 1 e. "This way," he ex plained with threads in his hand, "you get a lock." He uses 10-cord linen for all boot work and boar bristles instead of needles for pulling the cord through the leather. There is still room for in dividualism in this machine age in the sewing of shoes, according to Stevens. The man with a long arm uses a long thread, the man with a short arm, a shorter thread. Stevens demonstrated. By taking the thread around the arm and through each finger he gets exactly the right length for the stitching. First in Harness Shop This Medford boot maker started working for himself 49 years ago, first in a harness shop in Iowa. He may have stayed there except for the advice of his uncle, "a pretty sharp fellow." "You are serving a dead trade," Steve remembers his uncle telling him. "No one is going to be wanting harness, cars and tractors are going to take over." "I couldn't believe it," Stevens said. "I felt that snow would prevent it and I insist ed that in winter horses would still be doing the work and furnishing transportation. How will they get the snow off the roads? I asked uncle. 'They'll find a way," he an swered, and I knew uncle was right. Then I'll go into a shoe repair shop, I told him. Uncle thought a while, then an swered, 'Yes I guess people will always wear shoes.' "So far they do," Stevens said. 'Swm along with (&dillae START ON MONDAY SWIM ON SUNDAY Healthful living and family pleasure at a pries everyone can afford. 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Ort., Ltd. 1078 Court 773-4543 ROCKET BASE VISITED Moscow -IUP1- Cuban Pre mier Fidel Castro and Pre mier NiklU S. Khrushchev visited a Soviet strategic rock et ba Thursday, the official Tasi ncwi agency reported today. Seniors receiving diploma were Curol Kay Andcrimn, Holland Craig Aruey, Jmeph CurtU Harnett, Pa tricia L,niln? Hcnlley, flodney Spencer Riddle. Penny Ann Blacketur. Richard Perry Boli, (iarvan Blake Bowman. Loratne Kny Hraun, Darlene Co (man. Ores J mom Conner, Richard Arthur Coulter. Terea Jean Tlledcrk'h, Jainea Friward Glanicni-k, Laura Joan Griffith, Danny Letter Harm, Donna Louise Hill. Gordon Walter Milli Jr.. Judith Marilyn Hohba, Prlaellla Mae Homer, nohort Allen Hunter, William Joaeph llhiiR worih, Dorotny Mll)uent James, ntclmrd Forcnl JcnninR. David nac Juhninn, Larry Owcm John Biin, Arda llenee JnhiiMUi John Kttwtml Kern. Mary Mar Bre! Lar'leur. Kennelh Lee Loper. Ronald Meredith Manktna. Loom Oliver Maudlin, Hubert David Montgomery. Saundra Lee NrUnn, It it he rt David McAlaiter. Mttrta Monlatvo, Timothy Garnet O'Mwra, franklin lroy Perk int.. Natalia Jean ReU-henheri. Larry Krank Rivhey. Rli-key Hay Ru-hey, Helt Jean Rotter u, Roger Arnold Hoy. William Dane Sauve, Teresa Caroline Sauve. Gall C. ' Si-harte, Sharon Ann Shllti. Penny Joy Slin nionds, Wane Weldon Smiley, Linda Carol Summer, Judith Git vie Stewart, Jan Noel Stone, Sallv Kay Sirong. Johnny Rurdette Turner, Mary Loutae Van de Kamp. Shir ley Ann Walker, Raymond Keith Wallace, Marietta Mae Wtlkiui, and Marctle Yvonne Wtlloughhy. Dennis the Menace pi LooKfffl)!!!! N AT TUe .Villi n Vllllk ill Jllll J -f ATTRACTIONS! U r i BERT HOLT - Aerial Jugglers and Christ. . ti-.l THE LOPEZ BROTHERS tf ' 'rs 'm 'n Amer'ta V - El P AlTHOFF ELEPHANTS lid)? KURT JENSEN'S CHIMPANZEES THIS BIGGER and BETTER THAN EVER! THE WEST'S FAVORITE SHOW RUDY BROS. SHRINE mm- ir wx Ci tit ik I MM IMF II II A JIM E. P. 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