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UNIQUE
MONUMENT
Located
at the Devil's Rope Museum3
Blocks East of Main
McLean,
Texas
by Delbert Trew |
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 | The
"TRIBUTE TO BARBED WIRE" The Only Monument in the World dedicated to Barbed Wire
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
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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. |
 | 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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