Builders found more than dirt when they began digging up the floor of what was once Johnny Hynes' book shop, then Thornton's Stationers and more recently occupied by WINZ, in Kaitaia's main street last week.
Wayne Cary and Patrick Koos, who are laying a new floor, discovered a small piece of history in the form of 10 steel shoe lasts, believed to be remnants of the days when the store was a saddlery in the late 1940s.
Long-time local John Knight, whose parents founded the family firm Knights the Jewellers just a few doors along more than 80 years ago, said he remembered one Pat Moloney arriving soon after World War II, around 1947, and opening a saddlery there.
"He used to repair saddles, as well as shoes and do leather boat repairs," he said, to his recollection at least until 1953.
Wayne Carey dug the shoes up on Monday and laid them out on display just inside the window, where they had attracted a lot of interest from passersby.
