Athens Cobbler Practices 'dying Art'

Latimer's shop and its location near the railroad have remained unchanged since 1961, when Latimer's grandfather, J.C. Dobbs, moved his shoe repair business to 110 W. Market St. in downtown Athens.

He works with tools that his grandfather used when he bought the business at another location in 1945.

"These machines are much older than my 47 years and still work well," he says.

Business licenses dating back 64 years are tacked to a clipboard on the wall. Prior to its Market Street location, Dobbs Shoe Shop operated in the Pinnacle building on the square.

Mildred Latimer, Dobbs' daughter and Mikes mother, says her father came to Athens after his military service, and he worked for the store's owner, Ike Carney.

"Dad was from Walker County, and the only reason I know of that he came to Athens was that he was looking for work," she says. "He worked for Ike a while and then bought the store."

The Dobbs family lived upstairs and operated the store downtown.