Restoring the Connolly Saddle
Saturday, June 13, 2009, 2 p.m.

About the Saddle

This magnificent saddle was made for artist and storyteller Will James by his friend, Jack Connolly, in 1927.

About the Restorer

Chas. Weldon began his saddle-making career in 1976 as an apprentice at the Connolly Saddlery in Billings, Montana. Chas. was painstakingly taught the age-old craft by Chuck Harris who in turn had been taught by Jack Connolly and his nephew John Connolly. After working for Mr. Harris for two years, Chas. continued his quest for saddle-making knowledge by working for various saddle shops throughout the West. He returned to his hometown of Billings in 1985 and began the Chas. Weldon Saddle Co. Since beginning the trade 33 years ago, Chas. has completed close to 500 custom order saddles and was awarded the prestigious Academy of Western Artists Saddle-Maker of the Year in 2005.

About the Restoration

Chas. will be performing the cleaning and saddle string replacement on the Will James saddle in the permanent collection of the Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, Montana. Several of Jack Connolly's hand tools used by him to string this saddle were handed down to Chuck Harris in 1955 and then on to Chas. in 1978. These same tools will be used again today in the restringing procedure on the Will James saddle.