August 31, 2015 - Not too many stores on our historic square remained active for almost a half century. As an example, Weaver Dry Goods was established in 1930 but didn’t close its doors until 1976. The story of its success and the people responsible for it will be delayed until the fall issue of We the People of Shelby County, but those of us living in Center in mid-20th century remember it well.
One senior citizen of Center recalls an earlier day when an unusual but delightful event took place at Weaver Dry Goods Store. It was the day when Buster Brown came to town. He must have been quite an attraction as he positioned himself on the balcony roof which covered the walkway in front of Weaver's on Shelbyville Street.
Just about everyone in the country knew about Buster Brown since his introduction as the "mascot" for the Brown Shoe Company at the 1904 World's Fair. For the first half of the century, this boy and his dog, Tige, were instrumental in an extremely successful marketing strategy that made Buster Brown shoes a top seller for years.
Not only were Buster and Tige the centerpiece of the Brown Shoe Company logo, midgets were hired to play Buster in department stores, theaters, and shoe stores throughout the United States. It was shear genius, or at least good luck, that Weaver's in Center gained a spot on such a tour. And, whether it was in radio commercials or during the earlier years of television, his child-like voice was recognizable to young and old alike.
"I'm Buster Brown; I live in a shoe."
(soundtrack: bark, bark)
"That's my dog, Tige; he lives there too!"
We don't know for sure, but it seems reasonable that Buster Brown repeated that catch-phrase more than once as a crowd gathered in front of Weaver's Dry Goods Store.
