NEW: ALDEN FOR BLACKBIRD - HAYBURNER SADDLE OXFORD in WHISKEY CORDOVAN and BLACK ALPINE GRAIN

This is the fourth shoe in our series of saddle shoes inspired by Seattle historical figure, Frank Osgood and his horse drawn and electrical streetcars. His contributions helped Seattle become a more modernized city and dramatically changed its street culture, helping Seattle's working man keep his shoes clean on his daily way through town and making his gal's Sunday afternoon picnics at Lake Washington as easy as hopping on a trolley.

1884 - Frank Osgood, widely known as the father of Seattle's public-transportation system, begins operating a horse-drawn trolley on Sept. 23. Passengers pay a nickel for a trip along steel tracks, laid in the mud of Second Avenue.

 

1887 - Osgood's horses — known also as "hayburners" — have trouble with Seattle's hills, so cars pulled by cables beneath the street are introduced. The Lake Washington Cable Railway, linking Leschi and Pioneer Square, is especially popular in the summer, when people ride along Yesler Way or Madison Street for a picnic at the lake.

  

1889 - Osgood unveils Seattle's first electric streetcar, despite fears that the line would magnetize pocket watches and shock horses with stray bolts of electricity. On the first run, a car stalls, forcing passengers to push it to the end of the line.

Within days, horse-drawn trolleys are phased out, making Seattle the first West Coast city to offer fully electric streetcar service.

Alden for Blackbird - Hayburner Saddle Oxford

in whiskey shell cordovan and black alpine grain

STYLE: Saddle Oxford LAST: Barrie UPPER: black alpine premium grain leather and whiskey Horween cordovan OUTSOLE: black, single thickness INSOLE: vegetable tanned leather insoles with the "Made expressly for Blackbird" heel pod MID-SOLE: cork midsole with steel shank for long-lasting strength and support LACING: round Cordohyde lacing through six pairs of brass agatine eyelets WELT: high quality matching Goodyear leather single welt construction LINING: fully leather lined SIZING: These shoes run large. We recommend sizing down half a size. If you don't see the size you're looking for, please contact us for assistance.

$535

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If you missed out on this shoe please let your sales person know your size in case one is returned.  Also, please consider pre-ordering the original Hayburner or Leschi Saddle which will arrive this Spring:

 Alden for Blackbird - Hayburner Saddle Oxford

in number 8 shell and black alpine grain

Alden for Blackbird - Leschi Picnic Saddle Oxford

in navy suede and black calf