An owner of The Haines Shoe House, who once called owing the shoe-shaped building “a dream come true,” has died.
The death of Melanie Schmuck, the home’s owner/operator, was announced in a Friday evening Facebook post, which described her as “a beauty inside and out,” who “was loved by all.”
Schmuck died unexpectedly Thursday morning due to health complications, according to the post.
“Melanie Schmuck glowed with life and energy,” the post reads. “She will forever be in our hearts.”
Schmuck purchased the shoe-shaped attraction off of Route 30 in Hellam Township, York County along with her husband, Jeff, in February 2015.
The home was built by Mahlon Haines, the “Shoe Wizard,” in 1948, and it has had several owners since then. In 2015, the Schmucks became the home’s fifth owners.
Shortly after purchasing the home, Melanie Schmuck spoke to a PennLive reporter, telling him about her excitement for owning the home, which would be opened for public tours.
“It was like we were given the keys to the Wonka factory,” she said at that time. “We plan to be open from here on out, through the end of time, until we can’t do it any longer, the first day of spring until mid-November. We’ll try to stay open as long as we can. It really is a dream come true for my husband and I.”
A service celebrating Schmuck’s life is scheduled for March 9 at Mt. Pisgah Trinity United Methodist Church at 5615 Mt. Pisgah Road in York.
The service is to follow a visitation with family members, which is scheduled for 9 to 11 a.m.
“Everyone is welcome,” the Facebook post reads. “We hope you’ll join us in sharing stories and memories during the service of how Melanie touched our lives.”