Hayes Family Shoe Store

Robert Wadlow, known as the Giant of Alton, Illinois, lived from 1918-1940 and was billed as the World’s Tallest Man. Although he was of normal size when he was born, a pituitary disorder caused him to grow to 8’11.1″ tall. He weighed 490 pounds and suffered from a number height-related ailments. At 13, it took 14 yards of material to make him a boy scout uniform. Two Wadlow artifacts are on display at this family owned shoe store that has been in business for more than 60 years. Henry Hayes, the original owner of Hayes Shoe Store, and his wife Audrey purchased the first shoe with the shoe store in 1950. It was a size 35 AA. Later, Henry had the chance to buy another shoe when the International Shoe Company had a promotion where a shoe store received a Robert Wadlow shoe that they filled with shelled corn and let customers guess the number of kernels in the shoe. At the end of the promotion, the Hayes had the option of sending the size 37 AA shoe back or buying it.