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Imagine two huge solid barbed
wire balls weighing approximately 400 pounds each, sitting atop limestone
rock fenceposts and joined by antique wrought iron fencing. This unique monument
is the creation of Frank and Violet Smith of Keller, Texas. The Smiths are charter
members of the Devil's Rope Museum of McLean,
Texas, and
the museum, known as the largest barbed
wire museum in the world, features this "Tribute to Barbed Wire" monument
at the front entrance. It has been photographed by more than 85,000 visitors since
1992. |
| The
"TRIBUTE TO BARBED WIRE" The Only Monument in the World dedicated to Barbed Wire
Photo
courtesy TXDoT |
| Devil's
Rope Museum Interior
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
The Smith's used it
as a yard ornament and nameplate for their home in Keller, Texas for many years
as they were avid collectors of barbed wire and other memorabilia. They donated
the monument to the museum in 1992 and it was moved and erected permanently at
the present site.
Historians state that, "Barbed
wire gave us control of the land, and windmills
made the land habitable." Barbed
wire was chosen as one of the most significant patents to come out of the
Industrial Revolution. Collectors say, "Get Hooked, on collecting barbed
wire."
© Delbert
Trew
"It's All Trew"
March 24, 2004 column |
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Recent Acquisitions:
Photos
serve as reminder of boundaries' importance by Delbert Trew
In
our modern times when eminent domain and development arrogance often dominate
the evening news, we received the story and photos of John Prather, a rancher
who lived in Otero County, N.M. Prather garnered national attention in the 1950s
by taking a heroic stand against the U.S. government's attempt to condemn his
ranch in order to add it to the nearby McGregor Missile Range, a part of Fort
Bliss, near El Paso.
Although the Devil's Rope Museum in McLean
has a huge library about barbed wire, some 6,000 related artifacts and a section
dedicated to ranches and brands, we still welcome true stories about the uses
and history of these subjects.
The story of John Prather fit our requirements
as it told of early-day fence building, the importance of defining our boundaries
and protecting our right to own land until death, if need be.
The package
contained photos and published documents plus eight livestock brands used by the
family, all registered with the New Mexico State Brand Records dating from 1888
to modern times. A special display has been constructed to house and show this
information.... |
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About Barbed Wire
Fences: Digging
post holes by hand was hard work by
Delbert Trew
Among the hundreds of jobs associated with farming and ranching,
digging postholes by hand is by far my least favorite. Today, most postholes are
dug by equipment powered by tractors, motors and hydraulics. Iron tee posts driven
into the ground have pretty well replaced the need for digging post holes. But
not so long ago all postholes were dug by hand with a pair of diggers.
Of
interest is the fact the Devil's Rope Museum in McLean has approximately 60 patented
post hole diggers on display all showing different designs and mechanisms to make
the job easier. more |
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