This is Throwback Thursday #143.  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 – January 1998

• The General Meeting’s topic was “Rivers, Rocks, and Ramblings: A Traveler’s Guide to Illinois Geology”.  The presentation was given by Ray Wiggers, a Science Writer and Naturalist.  Ray has been the speaker at a few ESCONI General Meetings over the years.
• The Paleontology Study Group was discussing the Permian Period.
• “Dino News” first showed up in the newsletter.  It was later renamed to “Karen’s Komments”.  It became a regular feature and ran until December 2017.
• The Field Museum set up a new prep lab just to prepare SUE’s bones, which the museum purchased in October 1997.
• Surefire Sign You are a Rockhound… “You have more pieces of quartz than underware!”

50 Years Ago – January 1973

• Jay Wollin spoke at the General Meeting for January 1973.  The topic of his presentation was “Strange Case of Frozen Mammoths”.  Jay described himself as a teacher, author, lecturer, and world traveler.
• The Mineralogy Study Group were showing off their iron specimens.
• There was a field trip to the Lizzadro Museum.  It was a tour through their lapidary school.
• The topic of the Paleontology Study Group meeting was “Paleontology: What is it all about?”  It was seen as a meeting to educate beginners.
• Bruce Lauer described one of hist favorite micromounts – Cyanotrichite.  His specimen came from the Grandview Mine, Horseshoe Mesa, in Coconino County, Arizona.  An example is shown above.
• ESCONI had 600 members!

70 Years Ago – January 1953

• The General Meeting’s topic was “Man’s Place in Nature”.   The talk was given by Dr. Frank L. Fleener.
• The juniors were discussing “Fool’s Gold”, with a presentation by ESCONI President Jay Farr.
• Starting in December 1952, each ESCONI meeting has a swap table, where members could trade fossils, minerals, etc.  A microscope, hardness tester, and reference materials were present to help in an needed identification.
• A potential field trip to the Wisconsin Dells was being planned.