Ghost Forge | Period footwear from Fugawee

We now offer Fugawee's famous footwear! When ordering, mention the shoe style and your size.

Fugawee makes both straight last and left/right or "crooked" colonial shoes. The straight last is more correct for the ordinary persona of the Colonial period but the crooked last is more comfortable. After being worn a few times, a straight lasted shoe soon molds itself to your foot.

Never swap shoes. That is a myth with but a faint foundation in history.

Toe caps, the formed section at the front of the shoe, didn't come into use until about 1870. When you buy a Colonial shoe, expect soft toes and expect to need your shoes a little longer if you have prominent big toes.

Shoes to not come with buckles included, please select buckle style at time of order.

Men’s Colonial Footwear:

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Franklin:

The left/right Franklin is made of black calfskin.

It has a normal heel and is leather lined. The toe is slightly squared but not square enough to limit the style to pre-1735. With a longish tongue, the Franklin is a good choice for the gentleman of means. The latchets will accept a 1¼ to 1½ inch buckle. Sizes 7 to 13 in E width only. Franklin sells for $104.50

Concord:

The left/right Concord is unlined and made of a heavier leather than the Franklin. We wanted more of a common man's shoe. Then we named it the Concord in honor of the heroes who left their homes and their wife-warm beds to gather at the Concord bridge and dare the British Empire to do its worst. The shoe named in their honor sells for $98. Buckles sold separately. The Concord Originally designed to honor those men who fired the shot heard round the World, the Concord is proving popular with women who want a solid and comfortable shoe that will stand up to grass and gravel; a shoe that will carry a tired woman until sunset. Available in smooth or rough finish. $98. Men's Sizes 5 - 15 in widths E, EE, EEE. Women order the men's size one and one half sizes smaller than your regular size. Few women will require anything wider than an E width (our narrowest). Thus. if you take a normal woman's size 9c, you probably will find a good fit in a Concord 7½ E. The best shoe around for a stony site. Buckles not included.

1758 or Ligonier Model.

Straight lasts. No Left or right

Sizes from 7E to13½ EE. We carry E, EE and EEE widths in whole sizes, E and EE in half sizes. Available in rough out or smooth finish. Short tongue, round toe, (square toes disappeared in 1735) 1¼ inch latchets. Price $98.

Women’s Colonial Footwear:

Anna A comfortable heeled shoe is a left/right model designed to be worn without buckles. She is designed to be worn with a ribbon tie or a rosette that will match your outfit. Heel is 2 inches. Steel shank, black calfskin. Modern last. Sizes5½ to 10 in full and half sizes widths B and C and full sizes in 11 and 12 B and C. Price is $87.

Barbara is the woman's version of our 1758 or Ligonier shoe. Low heel, straight last, round toe, unlined, and available in smooth or rough-out leather. Sturdy and stable on a city street paved with cobblestones or on the rough turf of a campground. May be worn with ties or buckles. Rough-out or smooth. Barbara sells for $90.20

Connie is modeled after a photo in Baumgartner's book on Clothing in Colonial Williamsburg. Connie is a straight last, heeled shoe. Surprisingly comfortable. You will forget that it is a straight last shoe the second or third time you wear it. We have Connie in black smooth calfskin or suede and a few in natural color. The naturals were meant to allow the customer to dye a shoe to match her outfit but never caught on so we are discontinuing them. Call to check on availability. The Baumgartner book shows a natural color shoe like the one shown and was the model for our Connie. Connie has a 1-3/4 inch heel and is available in sizes 6B to 10C in even sizes only. Price is $82.50

Martha is an elegant shoe, ready for the Governor's Ball or for everyday use by a style-conscious lady. Martha features all leather construction on a comfortable modern last with a heel of 2 inches. The thing that makes Martha elegant is the carefully crafted fan-shaped tongue. Sizes 5B to 11C in full and half sizes. Price of the Martha is $87. Black or Bone. Martha is also available in a bone color suitable for use as it comes from the box or easily died to almost any color.

Ladies Concord:

The left/right Concord is unlined and made of a heavier leather than the Franklin. We wanted more of a common man's shoe. Then we named it the Concord in honor of the heroes who left their homes and their wife-warm beds to gather at the Concord bridge and dare the British Empire to do its worst. The shoe named in their honor sells for $89. Buckles sold separately. The Concord Originally designed to honor those men who fired the shot heard round the World, the Concord is proving popular with women who want a solid and comfortable shoe that will stand up to grass and gravel; a shoe that will carry a tired woman until sunset. Available in smooth or rough finish. $98. Men's Sizes 5 - 15 in widths E, EE, EEE. Women order the men's size one and one half sizes smaller than your regular size. Few women will require anything wider than an E width (our narrowest). Thus. if you take a normal woman's size 9c, you probably will find a good fit in a Concord 7½ E. The best shoe around for a stony site. Buckles not included.

Rough out or smooth? Fugawee uses the same top grain leather for both types and doesn't use cheaper splits for the rough-out. The rough-out reflects the common shoe in Colonial times. The leather splitting machine was not invented until the 1840's.

In Colonial days, leather was brought to thickness by "currying" or scraping over a wooden beam. Unlined shoes would be made with the smooth side inside to take the place of a lining. The rough outside leather was dressed with a mixture of soot, lard, bear grease and beeswax. The first commercial shoe polish was advertised in Boston in 1771.

For the most authentic appearance, the rough-out Concord or 1758 model may be "packed" with commercial shoe polish to simulate the bear grease polish of the itinerant shoemaker.

Buckles:

Pewter or Midshipman The most inexpensive buckle on the market. When we first thought about making a pewter buckle we were worried that the metal might not be sturdy enough for the prongs to hold. We were wrong. Only one buckle has ever come back. These buckles sell for $28 per pair.

Large brass buckle: A massive solid brass buckle suitable for military use or by the farmer, tradesman or militiaman. Suitable for a latchet (strap) of 1¼ inches. The price is $35.20 per pair.

Small brass buckle: A small plain brass buckle that will still fit a 1¼" latchet. Nice for the townsman and/or his lady. The price is $35.20 per pair.

Basket-weave brass buckle: An interesting and unusual design in heavy brass. Takes a latchet of 1¼ inches. Price is $35.20 per pair.

Celtic knot: An attractive brass buckle for a lady's shoe. Dainty, yet takes a latchet of 1¼ inches. Price is $35.20.

Thistle: Great Scot! Massive brass buckle that is sure to stand out. Good for winter wear as it reflects the sun's warmth up under your kilt, where it is needed.. Also suitable for wear with breeches. Price is $38.50.

Best Buy $22. This brass buckle features machine-cut steel chapes. Chapes are the "tongues." of the buckle. We would suggest that you sharpen the prongs for better appearance and service. A fine buckle, authentic in appearance and rugged as they come. Great for the military. 3 inches by 1^3/4inches on the face, it will take a latchet (strap) up to 1½ inches wide.