- Alexandria Historical Society
Courtesy of Alexandria Historical Society
Ted's Saddlework
During the 1940s, Edward Anderson “Ted” Flowers began making saddles at his shop in Anderson [Indiana]. He then moved to Alexandria [Indiana], where he opened Saddles on Parade on Indiana 9, just south of town. It was there where Flowers not only produced most of his saddles but also manufactured his own steel dyes for stamping patterns into the leather. The saddle maker most often used German silver, stainless steel, Sterling silver, brass, and copper to decorate his saddles. The fancier saddles featured an Indian head or horse head decoration, and sometimes a 14-caret[sic] gold inlay. The saddles weighed anywhere from seventy-five to one-hundred-fifty pounds.
It wasn’t uncommon for Western movie legends Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey to buy equipment from Flowers. The cowboy stars would land their private planes at Alexandria’s Knott’s Airport just a mile away and go almost unnoticed by fellow customers at Saddles on Parade. - Herald Bulletin
Ted Flowers Museum Display
Thank you to the Curtis and Elizabeth Corson family of New Jersey for donating an original (circa early 1950s) Ted Flowers Silver Parade Saddle to the Heritage Foundation. This saddle is proudly on display now as you come into the museum. It is a beautiful piece of work and represents such an important time in the history of the Palomino horse.
Stop by the Palomino Heritage Museum in Tulsa, Okla., to see this saddle!
Parade Saddle & Artifacts Donation
It is our goal to have several of these historical saddles on display in our museum, so if you have one or know someone who does, we are accepting donations. Remember, your foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible. To donate items, provide exhibit displays, or place a piece of your heritage on loan, contact Lynn Branson at (405) 385-3008 or Carolyn Henderson at (918) 366-3624 for a personal, private consultation.
