Rugged as old strop leather

Knoxville News Sentinel ^ | 6/14/5 | Sam Venable

[SmithL]

You didn't miss a day of work last year? Good.

Nor one in the past five years? Impressive.

Indeed, you've been present and accounted for every workday over the last decade? Two decades? Three decades? Mighty fine.

But you still can't hold a flame to Hardy Johnson of Custom Shoe Rebuilders, 5027 N. Broadway. Not even close.

His last sick day was in - brace yourself - 1947.

"I've found that if you just go on and work, you'll be OK," the soft-spoken, 76-year-old Johnson says with a shrug. "I reckon work was bred into me."

So was the shoe repair business.

Johnson's father, Hardy Sr., spent his lifetime in the trade, too. He learned it from his father, William, well before the turn of the 20th century.

The vocational lineage didn't stop with three generations, either. Jimmy Johnson, Hardy's son, has been stitching, grinding, gluing and polishing shoes and boots for most of his 45 years. He's been working full-time at the shop since graduating from Central High School in 1977.

"I've got a 14-year-old son who has no intention of making it five generations," Jimmy said with a laugh. "He wants to go into real estate."

In an era of disposable goods, when throwaway takes precedent over repair and reuse, this father and son represent exceptions all over the chart. Not only can they resurrect leatherwear, they work together like dear old friends.

"I can honestly tell you we've never had a cross word," said Jimmy. "I've got a special dad."

A walk through the Johnsons' shop - awhir with belted machinery to grind and shine, and heavily scented with the fragrance of leather and polish - is literally a trip through time.

Their oldest piece of equipment, designed to trim soles, dates to 1926. Their "youngest," a shoe stitcher, was installed in November 1963 - "the same day President Kennedy was shot," Hardy recalled.

Their customer base is vintage, as well.

"Just the other day, a woman was in here to drop off some shoes," said Hardy. "She pointed to our counter and said, 'I can remember my mother setting me up there.' "

But even if some things remain constant, both men agree no two days are the same. There's no telling what job will present itself when the front door opens.

Over the years, they've worked on shoes, boots, belts, baseball gloves, harnesses for farm animals, pocketbooks, coats - even a custom-made set of snow boots for a dog.

Do they ever run into a job they can't tackle?

"Sure, it happens sometimes," Jimmy responded, "and it's usually a dog's fault. People will bring us boots and shoes their pets have chewed to pieces and want us to make 'em look like new. Sometimes we can; sometimes we can't.

"And sometimes, a pair of shoes gets so broken down there's no hope for it. Happened just the other day. A man brought in his favorite pair of golf shoes. They were so worn out there was nothing we could do. I know how bad he felt. When you've got a pair of real comfortable shoes, you hate to give 'em up!"

Sam Venable's column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. He may be reached at 865-342-6272 or venob@knews.com.

[SmithL]

Posted because there is more to life than war, politics, and Michael Jackson. That, and I just like this story.

[Asphalt]

since, 1947, ? I went from 1st grade to 8th grade without missing a single day for being sick, and I thought that was impressive. Man. i'm going to have to start working on my immune system.

[B4Ranch]

Taking a day off because you're sicka nd working while you are sick are the two different sides of the coin. Owning your own business, you tend to show up no matter how lousy your body feels.