The place we call home

Share Your Soles ® is located in Pullman, IL, which had its start on May 20th, 1880

Initially built by George Pullman around what was then an interior courtyard. The stables primary purpose was to house, per George Pullman's orders, all horses in the town "including the dray horses used for the town's delivery trucks as well as the carriage teams and riding horses owned by wealthier citizens".  He wanted the town to be clean and odor free for its residents. 

At the time, a horse and carriage could be rented for $3 a day for "joy rides" in the country! In addition to the stables' 60 stalls, there were other enterprises using the building. 

The Pullman Fire Department occupied the front of the building.  Where firemen used the pole to descend quickly from their sleeping quarters upstairs to the hook and ladder below. The hole for this fire pole still exists! 

The Town's telegraph office also occupied the NE corner of the building. After the fire department moved out, the 2nd floor was occupied first by the Arcadian Club, then the Cooney Mortuary in the 1920's, then John's Barbershop...the barber pole sign is still to be found on the corner of the building. After John moved his shop, the space was occupied by the Illinois Bell Telephone Company.

Sharing Soles in Pullman, Chicago

The McLaughlin Brothers contractors (paved Cottage Grove Avenue from 115th to 95th Street, along with many other projects) were the first owners of the stables after the State of Illinois forced the Pullman Company to sell all the "non-industrial buildings" in the original town. They in turn sold the building to Tom McElroy who in turn sold it to Lou Clousing who opened a service station on the premises in 1953.

In the 1970s, the building was used as a gas station and auto repair shop where it continued as such until Share Your Soles ® took ownership.

Currently,  the team at Share Your Soles ® is working diligently to restore the building and utilize it as their headquarters. 

Learn & volunteer

Share Your Soles ® provides the opportunity for people to share new or gently worn shoes to those most in need.  Individuals you may never know, meet, or see, but will have been given hope and the chance for a better quality of life because of your care, love, and generosity. Fill out the form to receive more information on volunteer opportunities!