Bruce Rosenbaum was commissioned to create a Steampunk flying shoe art installation to pay tribute to local philanthropist William H. McElwain who once ran a successful shoe company and is credited with engineering the country’s first $2 Shoe.
Read only a few comments posted on the Bridgewater Residents Facebook page and you will see just how much a place and its people can lift up an entire community and make a difference not only in the lives of the students, but also in the lives of teachers, administrators, and parents alike.
“Great teachers and schools can give us wings,” said Bruce Rosenbaum, Steampunk Reimagineer and owner of ModVic, LLC. “They help us soar into life – with this new Steampunk sculpture I wanted to pay tribute to the past, honor the present, and look to the future.”
The whimsical artwork resembles a mechanical Victorian shoe, much like the one designed by local businessman William H. McElwain who envisioned a quality product that was still affordable and produced on a mass scale.
This Steampunk inspired version has exposed gears, a trolley car operator’s seat, and has wings that allow the imaginary pilot to take flight. Other repurposed objects include shoe molds, industrial gears and machine parts, a large valve wheel, metals, iron, rebar, and fan blades for vertical lift off.
It was fabricated in partnership with metal artists Julian Halpern and Kamil Peters. Concept illustrations were drawn by Jim Su.
A large concrete plinth was also installed to serve as a pedestal for the finished sculpture.
HISTORY: The William H. McElwain Grammar School building was built in 1911 to 1913. J. Franklin McElwain donated money for the building and lot in honor of his deceased brother William H. who had founded an important and successful shoe firm in Bridgewater and had shown a commitment to the civic welfare of the town. Source: Quinn Stuart from Vanasse Hangen Brustlin
In 1872, E.F. McElwain established Bridgewater’s first large shoe factory. His son, William McElwain took over his father’s operation on Hale Street and, in 1902, he revolutionized the international shoe industry by implementing a program of year round manufacturing, thus introducing the first $2.00 shoe offered in the U.S. market.
His contributions and ingenuity led to industry-wide advancements, often compared to the accomplishments made by Filene’s in regard to the country’s retail industry.
When he passed away in 1913, William’s factory, combined with the production from his brother’s factory in Manchester, NH, resulted in over $8 million worth of shoes per year.
McElwain Shoe Company in New Hampshire eventually became known to the world as the Tom McCann Shoe Company.
The McElwain Flying Shoe was installed in February 2023 at the McElwain School Apartments property on Main Street in Bridgewater, MA.
The McElwain School Apartments renovation project includes the rehabilitation of the existing grammar school building into 16 mixed income apartments, the construction of a new, detached rear building that will include an additional 38 mixed-income housing units, and the rehabilitation of the 3-family home and barn at 242 Main Street. The site will also include a landscaped playground and community room that will be open for public use.
“It was a real pleasure working with Bruce and his creative team,” said Mathieu Zahler of MPZ Development. “He had a clear vision on this project and the ability to bring all the components together.”
“This sculpture is the perfect fit for our project – It pays homage to Mr. McElwain and his commitment to the town and people of Bridgewater,” said Jason Korb, managing member of Capstone Communities. “He was a true champion for average worker and in that spirit of community, these new apartments will provide opportunities for hard working individuals and families within that same community today – The notion of a shoe flying captures the essence of the high-quality education students received at the school – one that promoted curiosity and creativity. “
(Read More About McElwain School Apartments)
(Click Here to Watch McElwain Flying Shoe Video)
From left to right Kamil Peters, Bruce Rosenbaum and Julian Halpern.