This industry on the south bank of the Kaw River at Lawrence began as a drawing mill, where raw steel was drawn into wire. During its period of operation, the CBW Co. was a mainstay of early Lawrence's economy.

The barbed wire industry got its start in 1878 when Albert Henley came to Lawrence with several hand operated machines. This industry experienced phenomenal growth because of new state laws (in Kansas, at least) that required the fencing in of new lands in the West. On the heels of this growth, another barb wire company came to Lawrence in 1879. Henley, not wanting to lose his lucrative market share, built a new, larger plant using power from Lawrence's newly (re)constructed dam.

A few years later, in 1882, there were two new barbed wire companies that came to Lawrence. These two new companies, plus the two existing ones, joined together in August of 1883 to form the Consolidated Barb Wire Company. Needing a new building again, another was built and completed in 1884. Business went smoothly for nine years, and in 1893 the company again expanded, this time building an annex to the existing building that expanded their production to now include nails, hay bale ties, and plain and barbed wire.

But the American Steel and Wire Company, in partnership with the Federal Steel Company, cornered all raw materials used in producing barb wire in 1898. Because of this, the CBW Co. faced a crisis - either be run out of business or sell. They decided on the latter. The CBW Co. was sold in January 1899, and in March its doors were closed for the last time. Over three hundred Lawrence citizens lost their jobs because of it.

The building remained empty until the 1920's, when the Lawrence Paper Company took over. Today, the old factory is home to Abe & Jake's Landing.

Image taken from E.F. Caldwell's "A Souvenir History of Lawrence,1898."