“Why Superstitious Puritans Put Shoes in the Wall” will be the topic of the Belfast Historical Society’s meeting at 7:00 pm, September 22, in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library. Jan Eakins, architectural historian and writer, became interested in devices used by early New Englanders to ward off witches.  Wanting to avoid disasters, they placed old shoes in the walls of their houses and barns, hung a horseshoe over their door, or crossed their fingers. Also known as “concealment shoes” she will feature shoes now in the Belfast Museum collection.

Jan encourages bringing shoes and stories if you have them!