-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DGusKINovdSyji3kZS+5bDP/TcCvQQ/ftbF8edy7zrRQW+Oz21TZIuOov3yDKpCw
 5Nwg96P5vciIesoN9W8E6A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000094887-06-000072.txt : 20060316
<SEC-HEADER>0000094887-06-000072.hdr.sgml : 20060316
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060316124517
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000094887-06-000072
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060315
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060316
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060316

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STRIDE RITE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000094887
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOTWEAR, (NO RUBBER) [3140]
		IRS NUMBER:				041399290
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		191 SPRING STREET
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6178246000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		191 SPRING STREET
		CITY:			LEXINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02421

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREEN SHOE MANUFACTURING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORR JAMES F III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205297

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04404
		FILM NUMBER:		06690838

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		80 PINCKNEY ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6177420733

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		80 PICKNEY ST
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>orr315.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRIDE RITE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SRR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205297</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ORR JAMES F III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>191 SPRING STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEXINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02421</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>47.17</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.9300</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>47.1700</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47.1700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">one-for-one</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units represent shares of stock awarded to the director under The Stride Rite Corporation's Non-employee Director Stock Ownership Plan but which were deferred under The Stride Rite Corporation's Director's Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled in shares of stock, in either a lump sum or installments as elected by the director at the time of deferral, following the end of the calendar year in which the reporting person ceases to be a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Charles W. Redepenning</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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