Circa 1916 Kid Leather Wedding Shoes

I found these shoes in an antique shop in Florida about 20 years ago. The shopkeeper told me they were from an estate sale and that they were worn for a wedding. At that time I was really into old wedding photos and wanted them for my collection. I had asked her if she had the wedding dress that went with them. She informed me that she did, but that she could not sell it yet. I left her my name and number for her to call when she was ready to sell.

She never called so I went to her shop to see if the dress was for sale. The shopkeeper told me she could not sell it because the owner of the dress was in a nursing home and that the family that sold it at the estate sale now wanted it back but did not want to refund her for what she had paid. I then asked if they were wanting the shoes and she said she did not know. I would have been happy to return them. She told me to wait and she would let me know. I don't think she wanted to give me my money back if she wasn't going to get reimbursed. I told her to call me, but she never did.

So I do not know what happened to the dress and I was never asked to return the shoes. I felt bad and wondered what kind of family takes someones personal things and just sells them off before they are even gone. I just hope my family will be kinder and realize that there are certain things that mean a lot to me. Especially my wedding dress!