“Why Are There Shoes Hanging from Power Lines?”
I have been looking forward to the questions that my child will start asking me in the near future; these are the kinds of things that I am attempting to work on improving my ability to answer, such as “why is the sky blue?”
Yesterday, as we were taking a leisurely stroll, my son surprised me with an intriguing observation—one that didn’t require any probing into the atmosphere.
It’s become a charming habit of his to gaze up at the sky, identifying clusters of birds and airplanes. But yesterday, something new caught his attention. “Daddy, why are there shoes in the trees?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
And just like that, we were left pondering one of the quirky mysteries that often leaves city dwellers scratching their heads: Why do shoes end up hanging from trees?
Since we live in an area with buried power lines, my son hadn’t yet encountered the common sight of shoes tossed onto power wires by the wind—something that’s become a peculiar part of urban life.
I remember when the superintendent of my building once told me that people toss their shoes into trees when they move out of an area. This was something I heard as a youngster growing up in the Bronx. He explained, “When neighbors leave, this is their way of saying, ‘I’ve lived here.’” For many years, I took this explanation to heart. But over time, there’s been a lot of debunking, and the more it’s disproved, the more the mystery of it all only deepens, making it an enigma that begs for further thought.
In 2011, Snopes addressed one popular theory: that “old running shoes hanging from trees and power lines are gang signs.”
Over the years, various theories have been suggested to explain the phenomenon. Some claim gangs use the shoes to mark the boundaries of their territory. Others argue that bullies take shoes from innocent children and toss them up as a cruel joke. Another idea is that gang members use the shoes to commemorate the location where a friend was killed. Some even believe that drug dealers hang shoes on wires to advertise their presence in a neighborhood.
Other theories suggest that the shoes help increase visibility of power lines for low-flying airplanes. Some see it as a rite of passage for boys, marking the loss of their virginity or another significant milestone in their lives. There’s also the suggestion that high school graduates toss their shoes up to symbolize their transition to adulthood.
And then there’s the simplest theory: kids just do it because it’s fun. After all, when sneakers are worn out, why not tie the laces together and toss them into the air?
Even City Lab, which mentions the mystery in one of their articles, acknowledges the difficulty of pinning down an exact explanation, despite the many myths circulating. But there’s still hope for unraveling this curious puzzle. If you’re interested, check out The Mystery of Flying Kicks, a short film produced in Australia by Closer Productions.
Roadside America is also collecting stories about “shoe trees” from places like Middlegate, Nevada, and Beaver, Arkansas. One of their sources mentioned that the first pair of shoes was tossed during a wedding night argument, and over the years, the couple’s children added their own shoes to the tree.
So, what do you say to a little boy who’s curious about why shoes are hanging in the trees? Maybe it’s time to share the mystery with him, letting him know that it’s one of those things that doesn’t have just one answer—and that sometimes, the story behind it can be just as intriguing as the shoes themselves.
That sounds like an adventurous and meaningful bonding experience between you and your son! There’s something special about chasing down a mystery together, especially one as strange and fascinating as the shoe-in-the-tree myth. Imagine the stories you’ll both have to tell years from now—ones that come from your own experiences and imagination.
As you set out on your quest to “catch someone in the act,” you’re not just unraveling a mystery, you’re creating your own legends along the way. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even come up with new theories of your own that become part of the myth for future generations to wonder about.
So, young gentleman, embrace the journey. Let your imagination run wild, and make your own stories. You’ll not only be building memories with your son, but you’ll also be crafting new myths to pass on. It’s a legacy in the making!
