By Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN — Four generations of Morins have sold shoes on Main Street but after 108 years, the tradition has come to an end. Morin’s Shoe Store closed last week, and with it went one of the oldest family-run businesses in the city.
kAm%96 =2DE AC@AC:6E@C :? E96 72>:=J =:?6[ s2G:5 |@C:? 564:565 E92E 27E6C ca J62CD D6==:?8 2?5 C6A2:C:?8 D9@6D[ :E H2D E:>6 E@ C6E:C6] w:D H:76[ r:?5J[ 925 4=@D65 96C 3FD:?6DD[ x??6C v=:>AD6[ 2?5 E96 A2:C 7:8FC65 :E H2D E:>6 E@ “;FDE 5@ H92E H6 H2?E E@ 5@” 27E6C 564256D @7 =:EE=6 @C ?@ G242E:@? E:>6]k^Am
kAms2G:5 |@C:? =2F89D 2D 96 E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 9:D 72>:=J’D =@?8 9:DE@CJ :? 3FD:?6DD E@86E96C]k^Am
kAm“%96 7:CDE CF=6 @7 3FD:?6DD :D ?6G6C 8@ :?E@ 3FD:?6DD H:E9 72>:=J 3642FD6 :E ?6G6C H@C<D[” 96 @3D6CG6D[ H:E9 2 E@F49 @7 :C@?J]k^Am
kAm%96 |@C:? 72>:=J’D :?G@=G6>6?E :? E96 D9@6 3FD:?6DD 52E6D 324< E@ s2G:5’D 8C62E 8C2?572E96C y@D6A9 |@C:?[ H9@ 8C6H FA :? %C@:D–#:G:6C6D[ "F6364] w:D 8C62E 8C2?572E96C H2D 2 72C>6C :? r2?252 3FE :? E96 H:?E6C H@F=5 D6== D9@6D] pE E96 E:>6 E96C6 H6C6 2 ?F>36C @7 }6H t?8=2?5 D9@6 >2?F724EFC6CD[ 2?5 |@C:? D2:5 9:D 8C62E 8C2?572E96C H@F=5 A:4< FA :?G6?E@CJ 2?5 D6== E96 D9@6D :? =:EE=6 D9@AD 96 6DE23=:D965 E9C@F89@FE ?@CE96C? }6H w2>AD9:C6 2?5 |2:?6] |@C:? D2:5 9:D 8C62E 8C2?572E96C[ H@C<:?8 H:E9 D@>6 @7 9:D 3C@E96CD[ 6DE23=:D965 |@C:? $JDE6> @7 $9@6D]k^Am
kAmq6C=:? H2D E96? E96 72DE6DE 8C@H:?8 4:EJ :? E96 DE2E6 2?5 925 2 =2C86 uC6?49 r2?25:2? A@AF=2E:@? 2?5 |@C:? $JDE6> @7 $9@6D @A6?65 @? =@H6C |2:? $EC66E[ ?62C H92E H6C6 {23?@? |6?’D $9@A 2?5 vF2J 2?5 sC@F:?] %96 DE@C6 H2D @? =@H6C |2:? $EC66E 7@C 23@FE b_ J62CD 2?5 E96? >@G65 E@ FAA6C |2:? $EC66E ?62C E96 @=5 %:>6 (2C?6C @77:46] qJ E96?[ |@C:?’D 8C2?572E96C[ #@=2?5 |@C:?[ 925 ;@:?65 E96 72>:=J 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm“%96 |@C:? $JDE6> @7 $9@6D C62==J 76== 2A2CE 5FC:?8 E96 56AC6DD:@?[” s2G:5 |@C:? D2:5[ 3FE E96 q6C=:? DE@C6 C6>2:?65]k^Am
kAm(:E9 #@=2?5 |@C:? 2E E96 96=>[ E96 DE@C6 >@G65 E@ `hb |2:? $E][ H96C6 :E C6>2:?65 7@C 23@FE d_ J62CD] xE H2D D9@CE=J 27E6C (@C=5 (2C xx H96?[ 724:?8 D@>6 962=E9 :DDF6D[ #@=2?5 |@C:? :?G:E65 9:D D@? q@3[ E@ ;@:? 9:> 2E E96 DE@C6]k^Am
kAmq@3 |@C:?[ s2G:5’D 72E96C[ H2D H@C<:?8 2D 2 56A2CE>6?E >2?286C 2E |@?E8@>6CJ (2C5 :? r=2C6>@?E 27E6C D6CG:?8 2D 2 |2C:?6 :? E96 H2C] q@3 |@C:? C6EFC?65 E@ 9:D 9@>6E@H? 2?5 H@C<65 H:E9 9:D 525[ 6G6?EF2==J 364@>:?8 @H?6C]k^Am
kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 E@ `hfc] s2G:5 |@C:? H2D =@@<:?8 7@C 2 ;@3 27E6C 4@==686[ H96C6 96 >2;@C65 :? 2?2E@>J 2?5 A9JD:@=@8J H:E9 2 >:?@C :? 3FD:?6DD] w6 :D :?E6C6DE65 :? E96 D@4:2= D6CG:46 7:6=5]k^Am
kAm“x 925 ?@ :?E6?E:@? @7 8@:?8 :?E@ 3FD:?6DD H:E9 >J 72E96C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqFE 9:D 72E96C ?66565 D@>6 96=A 2?5 s2G:5 |@C:? 42>6 23@2C5 7@C H92E H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36 2 D9@CE A6C:@5] s2G:5 6?565 FA 6G6?EF2==J AFC492D:?8 E96 DE@C6 2?5 9:D 72E96C H@C<65 H:E9 9:> 367@C6 C6E:C:?8]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 4@C?6CDE@?6D 2?5 F?:BF6 A2CED @7 E96 |@C:? $9@6 $E@C6 H2D E96 @CE9@A65:4 D6CG:46D 2?5 D9@6 C6A2:C 4@>A@?6?E] (96? ~F6==6EE $9@6 #6A2:C H6?E @FE @7 3FD:?6DD[ s2G:5 |@C:? AFC492D65 E96 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 DA6?E 2 J62C =62C?:?8 E96 32D:4 D<:==D] w:D 324<8C@F?5 :? 2?2E@>J 2?5 A9JD:@=@8J 42>6 :? 92?5J 2?5 96 6G6?EF2==J FA8C2565 E@ DE2E6\@7\E96\2CE 6BF:A>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 DE@C6 H2D 23=6 E@ 5@ AC6D4C:AE:@? D9@6 H@C< 7@C 4=:6?ED H9@ ?66565 DA64:2= D6CG:46D =:<6 D@=6 3F:=5\FAD[ 2?5 2C49 DFAA@CED :? 255:E:@? E@ 86?6C2= D9@6 2?5 =62E96C C6A2:C] |@C:? 6DE:>2E65 E96 @CE9@A65:4 2?5 C6A2:C H@C< >256 FA 2E =62DE 2 E9:C5 @7 E96 DE@C6’D 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAm|@C:? D2:5 E96 25G2?E286 @7 CF??:?8 E96 DE@C6 H:E9 9:D 72E96C :D :E 2==@H65 3@E9 E@ 92G6 E:>6 7@C E96:C 72>:=:6D 2?5 AF3=:4 D6CG:46]k^Am
kAmp 36=:6G6C :? 8:G:?8 324< E@ E96 4@>>F?:EJ[ |@C:? D2:5 96 7:CDE 8@E :?G@=G65 H96? y677 %2J=@C H2D 4:EJ A=2??6C 2?5 |2:? $EC66E H2D 36:?8 C64@?DECF4E65] w6 3642>6 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 E96 3FD:?6DD 4@>>F?:EJ :? E96 5:D4FDD:@?D] %92E =65 E@ E96 A=2??:?8 3@2C5 H96C6 96 D6CG65 7@C ad J62CD 2=@?8 H:E9 6:89E J62CD @? E96 4:EJ 4@F?4:=] w6 2=D@ D6CG65 @? E96 }@CE9 r@F?ECJ r@F?4:= %C2?DA@CE2E:@? r@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAmq@3 |@C:? H2D :?G@=G65 H:E9 E96 492>36C @7 4@>>6C46 2?5 E96 q6C=:? w@FD:?8 pFE9@C:EJ] p?5 27E6C C6E:C:?8 7C@> E96 DE@C6[ q@3 |@C:?[ 2E 286 f_[ H6?E 324< E@ D49@@= E@ 364@>6 2? @C52:?65 5624@? :? E96 tA:D4@A2= r9FC49]k^Am
kAmx? `hfg[ #:E6 p:5 r@CA@C2E:@? AFC492D65 2 3=@4< @7 3F:=5:?8D @? FAA6C |2:? $EC66E H:E9 A=2?D E@ 3F:=5 2 ?6H DE@C6 E96C6] |@C:?’D $9@6 H2D @?6 @7 E96 3F:=5:?8D 2?5 E96 DE@C6 >@G65 E@ :ED 7:?2= =@42E:@? 2E `f` |2:? $E]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H =@42E:@? AC@G:565 |@C:? H:E9 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 4@>3:?6 9:D H:76’D DE@C6[ x??6C v=:>AD6[ 2E E96 D2>6 =@42E:@?]k^Am
kAmw:89 D49@@= DH66E962CED[ s2G:5 2?5 r:?5J |@C:?[ H6C6 3@E9 6?EC6AC6?6FCD] (9:=6 96C 9FD32?5 H2D :? E96 D9@6 3FD:?6DD[ r:?5J |@C:? H6?E E@ 4@D>6E@=@8J D49@@= 2?5 H@C<65 :? q6C=:?] qFE D96 3642>6 2==6C8:4 E@ E96 496>:42=D 2?5 =67E E92E 42C66C E@ 364@>6 >2?286C @7 *@F?8’D |FD:4 $E@C6]k^Am
kAm(96? :E 4=@D65[ D96 DE2CE65 2 G:56@ DE@C6 3FE 925 E@ C6:?G6?E 96CD6=7 H96? E92E >2C<6E 5:65 @FE]k^Am
kAmtG6?EF2==J[ x??6C v=:>AD6 7@4FD65 @? 9@>6 564@C 2?5 4@F?ECJ 4C27ED] x? E96 ?6H DA246[ E96 D9@6 DE@C6 H2D =@42E65 @? E96 >2:? 7=@@C 2?5 x??6C v=:>AD6 D6E FA @? E96 D64@?5 7=@@C H:E9 2? @A6? DE2:C42D6 4C62E:?8 2 D6?D6 @7 DA246]k^Am
kAm|@C:? D2:5 E96 3:886DE 492?86 96 92D D66? :? E96 C6E2:= D9@6 3FD:?6DD 5FC:?8 9:D E6?FC6 :D E92E :E :D ?@E 6?@F89 ?@H E@ ;FDE D6== D9@6D] w6 D2:5 E96 C6E2:= 3FD:?6DD 92D 364@>6 >F=E:\=2J6C65 2?5 :?56A6?56?E C6E2:=6CD 92G6 E@ >@G6 :?E@ 2AA2C6= 2D H6==]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 DEJ=6D 8@ :? 2?5 @FE @7 72D9:@? :? `d\a_ J62C 4J4=6D 2=E9@F89 96 D2:5 E96 A6??J =@276C 7@C >6? 2?5 >2CJ ;2?6 7@C H@>6? 86E C6:?G6?E65 6G6CJ J62C]k^Am
kAm|@C:? D2:5 E96 >2E6C:2= FD65 7@C D9@6D ?@H :D =:89E6C[ >@C6 7=6I:3=6 3FE 2=D@ =6DD 5FC23=6 2D A6@A=6 =@@< 7@C E96 4@>7@CE @7 2E9=6E:4 H62C :? 6G6CJ 52J 7@@EH62C] %96C6 :D =6DD DH:E49 H@C< 2?5 >@C6 >@=565 2?5 H6=565 ?J=@? :? E@52J’D D9@6D] (9:=6 2E @?6 E:>6 =62E96C D9@6D H6C6 h_ A6C46?E @7 E96 >2C<6Ej E@52J |@C:? 6DE:>2E6D E96J >2<6 FA 23@FE 2 BF2CE6C]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 23@FE h_ A6C46?E @7 7@@EH62C :D :>A@CE65 H:E9 r9:?2 2 >2;@C 6IA@CE6C E@ E9:D 4@F?ECJ] qFE |@C:? D2:5 96 D66D E92E DE2CE:?8 E@ 492?86 6G6C D@ DF3E=J 2D E96 4@DE @7 >2E6C:2=D >2<6D :E >@C6 2EEC24E:G6 E@ 3C:?8 E92E >2?F724EFC:?8 324< E@ E9:D 4@F?ECJ]k^Am
kAm~?6 @E96C E9:?8 |@C:? 92D ?@E:465 :D E92E 766E 2C6 86EE:?8 3:886C] (96? 96 DE2CE65 :? E96 3FD:?6DD[ 96 D2:5 E96 2G6C286 D:K6 7@C 2 >2? H2D h\`_ H9:49 E96 2G6C286 H@>2? D:K6 H2D f \f]d] w6 AFE 2G6C286 D:K6D E@52J 2E ``\`a 7@C >6? 2?5 h 7@C H@>6?]k^Am
kAm|@C:? D2:5 2E =62DE EH@ =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D H:== 36 A:4<:?8 FA D@>6 @7 9:D D9@6 =:?6D 2?5 96 766=D E96 3F:=5:?8 :D 2? 2EEC24E:G6 A:646 @7 C62= 6DE2E6 E92E H:== 2EEC24E 2EE6?E:@?] |@C:? C6>2:?D @AE:>:DE:4 23@FE q6C=:?’D 5@H?E@H?[ 4:E:?8 E96 D<:== 2?5 <?@H=6586 @7 E96 =@42= >6C492?E] qFE 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? @G6C 2 46?EFCJ E96C6 H:== ?@E 36 2 |@C:? D6==:?8 @? E96 DEC66E] %96 4@FA=6’D EH@ D@?D 92G6 @E96C 42C66CD 2?5 :?E6C6DED 2?5 49@D6 ?@E E@ 7@==@H E96 72>:=J 3FD:?6DD]k^Am
kAmr:?5J |@C:? 564:565 E@ C6E:C6 7:CDE 2?5 4=@D65 96C 3FD:?6DD E9:D DAC:?8]k^Am
kAm“x <?6H :E H2D E:>6 7@C >6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6C 9FD32?5 H2D ?@E 72C 369:?5[ H:E9 E96 =2DE 52J @7 H@C< yF=J b`]k^Am
kAm(:E9 8C2?549:=5C6? 2?5 E96:C 962=E9[ E96 A2:C 9@A6D E@ EC2G6= 2?5 6?;@J E96:C ?6H7@F?5 C6E:C6>6?E]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.