By Ronda Wertman
tribune correspondent
The shoe repair business, which has been the lifeblood of the Calemine family for over 100 years in Keyser, is a dying art as today’s shoes don’t feature the leather soles and heels like those of the past.
Reno Calemine recently shared the history of his family and their business with members of the Mineral County Genealogy Society.
Born in southern Italy, Domenick Calemine left home at age 16, arriving at Ellis Island. His first experience in America wasn’t the best. He paid $5 to get a job and after working one week, he was fired. Even in those days there were scams and someone was making money on these young men, making them pay to get a job, then firing them and hiring the next crew.
Next Domenick worked in a nail factory in Pennsylvania. After a while, he was in contact with John Fanto in Piedmont and came to Keyser in 1902 for a job on the B & O “work train." While up on 17 mile grade, Domenick was playing poker in the caboose and another train crashed into his. There were several injuries and Domenick's leg was badly crushed.
He was taken to the Hoffman Hospital in Keyser. His injury was so severe, Dr. Hoffman told him he'd loose his leg. Domenick told the doctor he would be very unhappy if his leg was cut off, so Dr. Hoffman literally wired the bones and twisted the wires and sewed him back together. His leg was crippled, but it wasn’t amputated. He was in the hospital over a year. During that time, Dr. Romig's wife was a nurse and she taught him English.
Once he was out of the hospital he decided to start up a shoe repair shop. Those were the days when a half sole was sewn by hand. Domenick opened his shop in 1904, saved up some money and went back to Italy for a bride, which he brought back to Keyser.
There were five shoe shops in Keyser in the early 1900s, including Louis Mayolo, Joe Citarelli, Bill Lithium, Jimmy Fazzlore and Domenick Calemine. When the Depression came, times were hard for those in the shoe business. Bill Lithium went to the CCC Camps and was low bidder for repairing half soles and heels. He got the bid at $1.25 per pair of shoes. Reno was sent out to knock on doors and inquire if there were shoes to be repaired.
Domenick was well known in Keyser as the man who played "Uncle Sam" in Nat Dantzic's Minstrel Shows, but also for parades. Carl Sievers had a bicycle with a big wheel in front and Gene Cross played the flute. These three were entertainers. Reno says if they had been in the bars and would get "in the right mood" they'd make their own parade down Main Street.
World War II came and everything was rationed — sugar, shoes and whiskey. Carlo, Reno's older brother, went to the war, then brother Lano and eventually Reno. Domenick and Mrs. Calemine had ten children. They almost had to close the shoe shop too during this time.
When Reno went into the service, he was in the shoe repair school. A master sergeant noticed Reno's knowledge and soon put him in the position of instructing shoe repairs. In thee weeks, he went from private to corporal and then became master sergeant of the orthopedic section.
Reno returned to Keyser after the war and used his war bonds to buy a brand new Pontiac from car dealer C.C. Stevens. He spoke with George Davis at F & M Bank, who loaned him the money he needed. There was the chance to go to Potomac State to school and get $75, so Reno did this for the amount of the car payment for the new Pontiac.
Reno recalled going up New Creek to Mott's for dancing on the weekends. There were lots of places to go dancing in those days in town and up along New Creek at the White Raven.
In 1955 Reno took over the Shoe Repair Shop from his father. The Western Maryland Railroad depot was in Keyser and carried passengers to McCoole and Westernport. B & 0 workers would drop off their shoes on their way to work and pick them up on their way home. Costs for a polish and shine over 60 years ago were 15 cents for two-toned shoes and 10 cents for black or white shoes.
At age 83, Reno is still in the shop four days each week.
Keyser, W.Va. —
