With Halloween right around the corner, there is a good chance that someone, somewhere right now is trying on a costume, purchasing one or thinking about what they’re going to wear. And chances are good that many of those choices will end up being alien inspired.

 

Here’s something you probably don’t know. Much of today’s alien and UFO culture – particularly the “Men in Black” made famous by Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith – has its roots right smack dab here in Harrison County. In fact, they are situated right in the heart of Clarksburg.

 

That’s correct. The man responsible for so much of the UFO craze that started back after World War II and the man that had a best-selling book that made famous the theory of “The Men in Black” lived for decades in Clarksburg. Even today, decades after his death, his work is still often quoted by those that study their genre of Ufology and for those who simply are curious.

 

The man in question is the late Gray Barker, who was born in 1925 in rural Braxton County before eventually migrating north toward Harrison County. During his time on this earth, Barker – who passed away in 1984 – became one of the first to actually write and research what most consider fantasy, many consider science fiction and a handful consider fact.

 

If you don’t believe me, you can see it all for yourself. The man responsible for “The Men in Black” popularity has a massive collection situated at the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library. The large series of books, papers and more are situated in the Waldomore Building and is meticulously handled by David Houchin, the Special Collections Librarian.

 

“Early in his life he was more into the world of movies than UFOs. He was actually just scraping by,” said Houchin, who can recount facts about Barker and anything else in his second story domain as easily as he breathes.

 

A developed love for movies came despite having just earned a teaching degree early in his life. He loved his work as a projectionist.  That love led him to a work with the old Lovett’s Drive-In Theater. And that eventually led him to serve in a job where he was essentially a booking agent between the movies and getting them to the drive-in.

 

“He was the middle man for, what at that time, was the emerging drive-in theater industry,” said Houchin.

 

It was during that time, in the early 1950s, when another famous – or infamous depending on one’s views – incident took place and Barker became involved in an event that changed his life and set the stage for him to become forever linked to the UFO culture.

 

It was in December of 1952 when something came flying out of the sky and crashed into the hills of Braxton County. Many claim to have seen and smelled something literally out of this world – and today are known as The Braxton County Monster.

 

“The story went out on the news wire and became a hot topic,” said Houchin. “The thought was that it may be extraterrestrial.  What probably happened was that something was being developed by the military with technology and it crashed there. Whatever happened, it certainly drew attention.”

 

Barker’s attention was among those drawn to it. In fact, he wrote what Houchin described as a “sensational account” that ended up being published in Fate Magazine. It was here, that his career as a UFO writer and publisher began.

 

By the next year, he got his big break. And he got it out of Bridgeport – Bridgeport, Connecticut.

 

The editor of a UFO publication decided to shut down. He told the public that the UFO mystery really wasn’t a mystery at all.

 

“The editor, Albert Bender, discouraged others from writing about UFOs. From that a story emerged that (Bender) was visited by three men in black suits who revealed the truth to him about flying saucers,” said Houchin. That’s the actual origin.”

 

The actual national notoriety, which continues to this day, came when Barker – who wrote and self-published materials for 30 years – was able to get a book published by someone other than himself. The book was called “They Knew Too Much.” A central them of the book was what happened to Bender and his visit from the Men in Black.

 

“That established the notion of having Men in Black visit you if you knew too much. If you did, you might be silenced,” said Houchin. “They were thought to be agents of governments. As it turned out, the book was published in the spring of 1956 and became a best seller.”

 

With that became a book tour. Houchin, who did the Saucerian Review magazine for years, said Barker did interviews on television and radio after the book became a hit.

 

“That made his name in the UFO community and he never lost it,” said Houchin.

 

As for the movie, The Men in Black, Houchin said it’s a cross between what Barker wrote about and the comic book that came out a generation later.

 

“The movie isn’t done for anyone who takes the thought of UFOs and Men in Black seriously. And I actually like the movies,” said Houchin. “Still, the idea that saucer activity is real and the government knows it’s real … that’s something Gray Barker contributed a lot too. It’s hard to argue that Gray Barker wasn’t a contributor to our pop culture. Perhaps, it’s on the fringe, but out on that fringe he has a place of honor.”

 

Houchin said he’s not sure early on if Barker actually believed what he was writing. He said he’s more confident by reading through his collections and papers that in his later years he wasn’t taking it seriously.

 

“From what I can gather, he probably thought the interplanetary explanation wasn’t true, but I just can’t say that for certain. There are those who said he didn’t believe and his writing was a way to make a living,” said Houchin. “His income was hand to mouth.”

 

If alive, Barker – who Houchin said tried to have multiple articles published in many of the relevant magazines of that era but came up short – would almost certainly be thrilled with the popularity of a topic he may not have created, but inspired and made famous while living in Clarksburg.

 

“He’s very much a part of the UFO culture that exists to this day and we have all of his files right here in Clarksburg,” said Houchin. “We still have people come to research his papers and the collection is open to the public.”

 

Take it from someone who’s been to see the collection multiple times, it’s worth a visit. Although a lot of what you see are small displays and books associated with Barker, the real treat is listening to Houchin explain everything. You should go and learn about Clarksburg’s UFO connection.

 

Unless, of course, you end up knowing too much and you may end up getting a visit from those Men in Black.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo is of one of Gray Barker's books, while David Houchin stands in front of the display of books in the "Barker Room." In the third photo is a portrait of the late Barker, while his magazine - The Saucerian Review - is shown at the bottom.