This is Throwback Thursday #329. 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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The newsletters are typically sparse in the summer, but here is a bit of ESCONI history for your summer reading pleasure.

25 Years Ago – July/August 2001

• The ESCONI website was in full operation. John Good created the first website, I remember it well when I joined in 2005. Snapshots of the original website can be found in the Wayback Machine of the Internet Archive. The first entry is March 30th, 2001.
• There was field trip to Ispheming, Michigan to collect Kona Dolomite, Iron, etc.
• Karen Nordquist did a nice report about the Field Museum’s Large Theropod Symposium. John Flynn, of the Field Museum opened with the story of SUE, while Chris Brochu discussed the new techniques used to prepare SUE’s skeleton. Phil Currie spoke about his experiences collecting and the problems of classifying Tyrannosaurids. Later, Phil gave a talk about the history of the discovery of feathered dinosaurs. Sounds like a very interesting event!
• Bill Horton, Lapidary Study Group Chair, gave some tips… better cabachons, faceting, and gemstone girdles. They sound useful, have a look. If you need a copy of this edition, let us know.

50 Years Ago – July/August 1976

• New members in 1976 included Floyd and Betsy Rogers.
• There was a short article “What We Should Know About Salt” from the Joliet Gem Star.
• There was a piece about the discovery of a new gem, Tsavorite, in southern Kenya. The first finds were in 1967 and 1971.
• There was an All Illinois Rock Swap and Silent Auction in late August 1976. Rich Rock was one of the organizers. Don’t forget our Rock Swap on August 15th, 2026.

70 Years Ago – July/August 1956

• In the 1950’s, ESCONI officers were nominated and elected at the May meeting. Howard Knight was the new ESCONI Chairman for 1956-1957. We did a post about Howard and Olive Knight in Throwback Thursday #95.
• July 12th-15th, was the annual Midwest Mineralogical & Geological Convention. It was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1956. Many ESCONI members attended. The convention was a BIG DEAL back then.
• There was a field trip to Cordovia Quarry near Moline, IL. The announcement said fossil hunting is good in the area.
• The F-A-C-E-T-S column had a nice entry about John and Lucy McLuckie. Apparently, Eugene Richardson, of the Field Museum, woke them at 10:30 PM one night to show them his findings for the day… a horseshoe crab, a spider, and a cockroach. What a haul!