This is Throwback Thursday #139.  In these, we look back into the past at ESCONI specifically and Earth Science in general.  If you have any contributions, (science, pictures, stories, etc …), please send them to esconi.info@gmail.com.  Thanks!

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25 Years Ago – December 1997

• The December General Meeting featured Dr. Klaus Westphal, who presented “Of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures”.
• The Holiday Party for 1997 was held at the Tuchetti Italian Restaurant in Aurora, IL.  
• Earl and Mary Cornwell died.  Both were 99 years old.  They were the long time owners, publishers, editors, and writers of “Earth Science Magazine”.
• The “Richardson’s Guide to the Fossil Fauna of Mazon Creek” was added to the ESCONI library.
• The Paleontology Group discussed the Pennsylvanian Period.  The meeting was led by Don Auler and Andy Hay.
• Mineralogy was identifying micro and macro specimens.  Everyone brought in 3 specimens to test their knowledge.

50 Years Ago – December 1972

• The General Meeting was given by Richard Winar, who was a geologist with Dames & Moore..  His topic was “Rocks and Minerals”.
• An identification contest was held at the Holiday Party.
• Mineralogy was discussing the Fluorite deposits of Southern Illinois and Kentucky area.
• Turquoise was the Gem of the Month. It’s also the birthstone for December.
• Richard Leakey’s announcement of the discovery of Homo habilis was in the news.

70 Years Ago – December 1952

• The General Meeting topic was “Lapidary”.
• “You Too Can Be a Lapidary” was an article in the newsletter, which tied into the General Meeting.
• The newsletter contained a report about the first meeting of the Archaeological Study Group.   They had a field trip to the Kankakee River and found found Native American pottery and arrowheads.
• There was a report of the Wisconsin Dells Field Trip in October 1952.  It was cold and windy.  They ate sandwiches or Lunch.  They saw rock formations and took many pictures.
• Jay Farr wrote an article entitled “All Blue Gems Were Called Sapphires”.  The topic was lapis lazuli.. a beautiful blue stone.