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KNAPP HOMESTEAD 1770-1815
1 Old Albany Post Road, New Milford

Originally built in 1770 by Daniel Burrit . When you come to visit this house, look for a very special item that was found in the walls while the contractors were working on the demolition phase of the project. As they were removing the knee walls they found something- a very old, worn out shoe. They had stumbled on a “concealment shoe,” the ancient custom of hiding a shoe in a house in order to protect it from harmful spirits.

    Often only a single child’s shoe was hidden, but shoes belonging to women and men have often been found as in this case. A total of four were found. They could have been hidden during the original construction of the house or during a later renovation.
    Historians think that people may have hidden shoes for the protection and good fortune they could offer.
    The New Milford Historical Society says “We have mounted tis shoe on the wall in the Knapp House Kitchen for all our visitors to see as a reminder that we are just caretakers of this historic building and are preserving the memories and lives of the people who lived in the house before us.”

Hours Tues.-Fri. from 12-3, Sat. 11-2,
and by special arrangement, Sunday.
Admission is $5 for adults, and children under 12 are free,
as are members.
For information, call 860-354-3069.