Posts Tagged ‘western’

When I stumbled into this website a while back, my first reaction was “huh?  barbed wire?.”  Of course I had to check this out.  Officially chartered in 1991 as The Historical Museum Of Barbed Wire and Fencing Tools, is a non-profit entity dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of barbed wire.  The complex, located on Route 66 in McLean, Texas, houses The Devil’s Rope Museum, The Texas Old Route 66 Museum, The Western Heritage Community Room, The Hagemeier Library, and the Museum Mercantile, a large souvenir store.

Even if you don’t give a hoot about barbed wire, their website (http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/index.htm) is a good read, encompassing almost 150 years of American history and the barbed wire woven through it.  Who invented barbed wire, making the wire, how it affected the West, the Fence Cutter Wars, use in warfare, how it attained the moniker “Devil’s Rope”, etc.  Thoroughly enjoyable and informative – students, teachers and historians will find this particularly helpful.

Seen one, seen them all?  Not quite.  There are over 570 patented wires with over 2,000 variations.  Two patents became the most practical and successful, leaving the rest to become part of history and varying from common to very scarce.  Wonderful drawings including clear descriptions take some of the mystery out of the different types of barbs.

Other sections of this website include a special library with recommended reading list, how to identify barbed wire, where it can be purchased, and what is going on today in the barbed wire collecting hobby.  A new wire collection Appraisal Service is now offered for tax, estate, or insurance purposes.

There’s a lot more here:  cattle brands and history, McLean POW camp, Texas Route 66 information.  Artist Al Martin Napoletano is featured with some of his works.  Closely associated with the barbed wire collecting hobby since the early 1970s, Napoletano is a rodeo circuit artist and has illustrated many books.

If you’re planning to travel in Texas, the museum has information about Texas Route 66, The City of McLean, Texas and other nearby areas.  You can see the first restored Phillips Service Station in Texas, learn all about the McLean Prisoner of War Camp built during WWII, stay in a vintage Route 66 Motel, and eat at the world famous Red River Steak House.

Take a look at the museum dedicated to barbed wire – “whose existence is both absolutely beneficial to progress, at times cruel beyond comprehension, caused drastic changes in world-wide warfare, and yet protects our lives twenty-four hours each day.  What more intrigue could you ask of any subject presented to you?”

Tell ‘em I sent ya ~ Victoria

We’ve all seen a piece – that rich brown color, little flowers, wavy lines, dots.  Western Stoneware produced this old fashioned stoneware with a Pennsylvania Dutch design known as Daisy and Dot in the 50s and 60s.

A few years ago, while browsing in an antique shop, Rita Pence spotted a cookie jar identical to the one she remembered from her childhood.  That cookie jar turned into a collection which resulted in www.mar-crest.com – her website devoted to this vintage stoneware. 

A herculean gathering of photos from her personal collection and contributors, combined with history, vintage ads, photos, reminiscences, an index of pieces, photos, original boxes, marks, and more.  Did I mention photos?  Very good ones.  And you can enlarge them, which my aging eyesight really appreciates.

An absolute must for the newbie, while the seasoned collector is sure to find unexpected surprises.  “Was there ever a ‘covered Marcrest butter dish?  Can I use it in the microwave?  Where can I get a grease pot to match my salt and pepper shakers?”  A separate section has six different style cookie jars with detailed descriptions.  The index (once again – with photos), the result of a great deal of time and effort, is the answer to the Mar-crest collector’s prayer.

Visit Rita’s website at www.mar-crest.com, leave a message, ask a question, contribute a photo.

Tell ‘em I sent ‘ya ~ Victoria