By: UHCL Admin17th Nov 2014 2:46PMSeveral visitors to the "Memories of Main Street" exhibition at which this picture was shown (September 24th-27th 2014) passed on their memories of having shoped at Taylor's Shoe Store in the 1950s. One detail that had stuck in many people's minds was that the concrete pavement going into the shop was imprinted with the soles of bare feet, while the concrete on the way out was marked with shoe prints (this was after the shop had been extended into the premises alongside). Another novelty that many people recalled about this store was that it had a shoe-fitting fluroscope. This was an x-ray machine within which customers could stand to view an x-ray image of the bones of their feet while trying on shoes - supposedly to judge how good a fit the shoes were. These kinds of machines were later phased out when people became aware of the radiation hazards involved.

By: Brian J. Pearce30th Jan 2014 2:59PMWhen this photograph was taken Les Taylor's shop, and Hercock Bros' store opposite, were the southernmost shops in the Upper Hutt township. Next to Taylor's shop was an empty section on the corner of Pine Avenue.
This was owned by Weston "Bill" Kirton who often grazed one of his horses there, a sight in shopping suburbia that nowadays would be considered unusual. The redwood tree towering in the background was felled on 20 July 1957 amid great controversy.