EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been up to date to mirror the truth that the corporate closed this 12 months, and now not operates a Burlington location.
Walter Sedlbauer labored for the Bata Shoe Firm in Czechoslovakia and got here to Canada within the late Nineteen Thirties to work at their new manufacturing plant in Batawa, Ontario.
In 1948, after 10 years with Bata, he joined forces together with his enterprise accomplice Tony Ronza and based Susan Footwear Restricted in Burlington, along with their wives. It was named after Walter’s spouse Susan.
The pair bought the previous T.W. Hand Fireworks-Parachute Flare manufacturing unit on Clark Avenue on the west finish of Caroline Avenue in Burlington. (T.W Hand manufactured Parachute Flares throughout the Second World Battle, from 1942). The Sedlbauers and Ronzas additionally lived within the constructing. They selected Burlington due to its proximity to Hamilton and Toronto, and so they rapidly turned successful.
By 1959, they’d a manufacturing employees of 220 in a 30,000-sq.-ft. plant, producing 2,500 pairs of sneakers a day. Susan casuals and Cheerleader sneakers had been the foremost strains of the corporate on the time. They had been fabricated from the best leather-based and made by expert craftsmen at their machines. They by no means discovered an acceptable substitute for leather-based within the making of fine sneakers. Eighty-five per cent of the uncooked supplies utilized by Susan Footwear had been Canadian, though they did import particular leathers from England, France, India and Japan. What would usually take six weeks, a brand new fashion might be deliberate by their designers and made in six days, and had been offered from coast to coast.
The corporate moved to Stoney Creek in 1969 with 100 staff. The title was modified to “Cougar” in 1970 and have become identified worldwide for winter boot put on. Many will keep in mind the should have basic leather-based Pillow Boot, which not too long ago made a comeback.
Walter’s sons Ron and Steve grew up within the enterprise. They attended Burlington Central Excessive College. They labored summers on the
manufacturing unit and finally gained publicity to each side of the enterprise. Ron pursued an expert hockey profession for a time, taking part in within the NHL from 1974 till retiring in 1984. The brothers finally took over the enterprise from their father. The Sedlbauers have additionally had involvement within the Burlington Cougars hockey group over time, the place Ron is presently President. Walter Sedlbauer handed away in 1994.
Dealing with chapter points in 1995, the brothers rapidly purchased the Cougar title out of the chapter.
Walter Sedlbauer was named Shoe Particular person of the Yr in 1986, and his sons Ron and Steve had been honoured at a gala occasion on the Bata Shoe Museum in 2009.
Whereas the manufacturing moved abroad, the Cougar firm’s company head workplace remained in Burlington till late summer time 2024. The corporate closed and the operation of the Cougar model was offered to Pajar.
What stays of the previous Burlington manufacturing unit, is a constructing dealing with Caroline Avenue, which housed a number of small companies over time, and has since been renovated and transformed into a non-public residence.
Jennifer Kemp is a lifelong Burlington resident with a real curiosity in native historical past, outdated photographs and analysis. She is a Burlington Historic Society volunteer.
