‘Miss Libby’ closes Wooden Shoe Nursery after 51 years
The Wooden Shoe Day Nursery on North 20th Street quietly closed this spring, ending a 51-year saga on the Westside.
Owner Elizabeth Calhoun, who had started the business in her garage in 1954, decided it was time after being hospitalized with blood clots in April. She only got out of the hospital last month, and is still being cared for at home by family members. “It came on all of a sudden,” she said. “I nearly died.” She's also sold the building at 306 N. 20th St. - a former duplex she had bought for the daycare 46 years ago. “It broke my heart after all these years,” she said. “I sure miss it, I tell you.” But don't count out “Miss Libby” (as she was known to her kids). While she understands there “comes a time when you have to slow down,” the long-time Westsider is open to new possibilities. “I'm still pretty weak, but as soon as it clears up, I will be doing something,” she said. “I'm not a sit-at-home person.” Through the half-century-plus that she ran the business, the Wooden Shoe had up to 20 kids most of the time. In all, she has estimated that more than 1,000 children enrolled in her daycare. “I appreciate so very much all the years that these people were so very loyal,” Miss Libby said. “A lot of kids, I had their parents. I'm going to miss everybody.” Westside Pioneer article |