Barbed wire
Larry Greer
Saturday, November 24, 2007
I LEFT Emporia 22 years ago, having spent 18 years there. I must say that I found Emporia to be a pleasant experience. While in Emporia, I became re-acquainted with the early history of the area, and in particular, that of the introduction of barbed wire fencing. My interests led me to become deeply involved in patent research of the barbed wire development. This was possible with the help I had from the Emporia Public Library staff to which I owe a great thank-you.
The research ultimately led me to collecting barbed wire. The new hobby was encouraged by many local farmers and ranchers who gave me samples from their areas. The first large collection I viewed mounted and displayed was in the Helen Gibson liquor store on South Commercial.
A number of us local collectors organized a club there in 1970. We called it the “Emporia Barbed Wire Collectors Association.” We held a collectors’ show there in Peter Pan Park in 1971. The EBWCA dissolved in 1976 because some members moved and some had gone to Vietnam. We then connected with the Kansas Barbed Wire Association, with its museum in La Crosse.
I want to thank The Emporia Gazette for reporting all of our meetings and activities we submitted to the paper.
Since I was in Emporia, I have continued with the hobby, namely through the Antique Barbed Wire Society, a national organization, as their historian. I owe all of this being made possible by having lived in Emporia, where history was at hand, and came alive.
Larry Greer
St. Peters, Mo.