Quincy, Illinois Famous Shoe Tree Has Changed a Lot Since 2012

This is one of if not the strangest things to mention to someone who doesn't live in Quincy, Illinois. We have a shoe tree and it's changed a lot over the past dozen years or so and I have pictures to prove it.

The first rule of the shoe tree in Quincy, Illinois is you don't talk about the shoe tree

I dared to ask questions about the shoe tree on the eastern side of Broadway in Quincy, Illinois a few years ago and was immediately told "Shh...don't mention the shoe tree" which resulted (of course) in me talking constantly about the shoe tree. Instead of dwelling on the why question, instead here are pictures of the shoe tree as it's grown over the years. This "special" tree is located right across from the Prairie Crossing Shopping Center.

Quincy Shoe Tree - 2012

Quincy Shoe Tree - 2015

Quincy Shoe Tree - 2016

Quincy Shoe Tree - 2019

Quincy Shoe Tree - 2021

Quincy Shoe Tree - 2024

Why are there shoes and bikes on the Quincy tree?

When I originally asked the question, I had many in the audience say that it's shoes and bikes the guy that lives there finds on Broadway. Yet another mentioned how entertaining the tree is which is helpful since the stoplight on that part of Broadway takes forever to change. She's not wrong.

Back to my original point. The first rule of shoe tree is to not talk about the shoe tree.