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Communities at Work: Cobblery in Craig March 21, 2009
Their work harkens back to another time. But, it's something co-owners Ernie Allen and Robert Wells spend their days perfecting. Although Wells is new to cobblery, he has Allen, who has spent more than 40 years in the trade of shoe and boot repair, to show him the ropes at the newly opened Craig Boot Repair. Allen said cobblery isn't something picked up over night, however. "This is something you have to learn from someone else and put a lot of years into it," Allen said. "It's gratifying when you get done with it, when you take something old and turn it into something new." The business is at 333 E. Victory Way, at the back of the building. Look for the big boot on the side of the building.
Ernie Allen hammers nails Wednesday into a boot, attaching its sole at Craig Boot Repair.
Robert Wells works on a saddle Wednesday at Craig Boot Repair. Wells attaches the skirt to a wood tree covered in rawhide in the assembly of the saddle.
Wells uses a sole stitcher, which uses a curved needle to sew the sole to the boot.
Allen said the base of his business is shoe and boot repair, but he also repairs saddles, gun holsters and many other items.
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