As part of the run up to ESCONI's 70th Anniversary, here is Flashback Friday post #8. If you have pictures or stories to contribute, please send them over to [email protected]. Thanks!
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Here is the Field Trip list for 2007. Generally, in the past, we kicked off the season at Jacob's Geodes in March with a trip that coincided with the MAPS show, which at one time was held in Macomb, IL. Other familiar places on the list are Braceville and St Paul, IN. We've been visiting Braceville for more than 20 years. Lone Star Quarry was a place we visited twice a year back before it closed around 2008. It might reopen as a fossil park at some point in the future, Roy Plotnick has a great post about it on Medium.
ESCONI FIELD TRIPS 2007
March 31, 2007 Geode Field Trip
Field Trip #1 - Geodes at Jacobs Geodes, Hamilton, Illinois.
Meet at 9:00 am at 823 E. County Rd. 1220 in Hamilton, Illinois at Jacob's Geodes. $15 for a full 5-gallon pail.
Hard hats not required. Boots and safety glasses recommended. An Eastwing rock hammer is the best tool. Chisels, pick and pry bar are good also. Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs, extra clothes (you will get wet and muddy) are also a plus.
Directions: From Western Illinois University
Odometer Reading (approximate)
0.0 Turn LEFT (South) onto (N) Ward St. for 0.4 miles
0.4 Turn RIGHT (West) onto US-136 [W. Jackson St.] for 36.2 miles
36.6 Turn LEFT (South) onto SR-96 [N. 14th St.] for 1.3 miles
37.9 Bear RIGHT (West) onto 2nd St. [S. 2nd St.] for 0.1 miles
38.0 Arrive Jacobs Geodes - 823 E. County Road 1220
Field Trip #2: PIT 11 APRIL 29, 2007
Richard Rock has organized a Mazon Creek Fossil Collecting Trip on a boat to Braidwood. The cost will be $10, $5 for children under 12.
You will be assigned a time to be at the dock, as we will be leaving the dock in groups of 5 plus the captain of the boat. The first group will leave at 8:00 am. As payment is received, you will be assigned a time to be at the dock. Everyone will have at least four (4) hours of collecting time. There will be a waiver signed before leaving the dock. You must also have been a member on March 1, 2007.
Children are welcome, each must wear a floatation device while in the boat, at all times. Each must be accompanied by an adult at all times. You are responsible for your children. They are to be with you at all times. Children’s cost is $5.00, under 12 years old.
What to bring? Bags or buckets and a hammer. Lunch, lots of insect repellant for ticks and …, a small cooler is okay.
There will be three leaders on this trip. we reserve the right to refuse a reservation, or to ask you to leave if there is a problem. A strip mine area can be a dangerous experience, we are not responsible for you, anything lost, stolen, left behind, or an injury of any kind.
Please send a check or money order to Richard Rock, PO Box 726, Wilmington, IL. 60481. reservations close on April 14th, or sooner if we fill up the reservations. no phone reservations. 1-815-476-7040. I need your address and e-mail. (if this works out we will do this again in Sept.)
Take IL. 53 south to Godley, Kankakee road to the boat ramp.
Field Trip #3 Lone Star May 12, 2007
Age limit of 13 and above. Children must be supervised by parent. Hard Hats Required.
Meet at the Lehigh Park in Olgesby, Illinois at 9:00 A.M.. Take I-80 to Exit 81, South Hy 178. Take South Hy 178 south across the Illinois River. Turn right at Highway 71. Turn left at East 651st Road and take it across the Vermillion River into Walnut Street. At Walnut and East 651st Street is Lehigh park. Total distance from Hanover Park to LeHigh Park is 97 miles.
We will be collecting fossils from a working quarry. Avoid the walls of the quarry. Shark's teeth have been found here. New areas of black shale have been exposed. Boots are recommended. An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool. Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs and extra clothes are also a plus. Bring a bucket for the fossils. Bring plenty of water and a lunch.
For pictures from last year's trip, Field Trips 2006 Archives
Field Trip #4,5: May 19,20, 2007 - Braceville, Illinois for Mazon Creek for fossils - Private Property
Meet at 9:00 A.M. Saturday and or Sunday at the BP Amoco in Coal City. No Age Limit. Hard Hats not required.
Take I-55 to Exit 236 (Coal City). Take a right onto Highway 113 (Division Street). Go west to Broadway Street and Division in Coal City.
We will be collecting Mazon Creek concretions from an old spoil pile on private property. Hard hats are not required. Boots are recommended. An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool. A small shovel or pick is helpful. Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs, extra clothes (you will get wet and muddy) are also a plus. Bring a bucket for the fossils. Also bring insect repellant.
Check the web site for details or contact John Good at 630-483-2363 for confirmation and reservations or e-mail at [email protected]
ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD TRIP: Sunday May 26, 2007
Meet at Dickson Mounds, Lewistown, Illinois at 1 pm.
Click on Dixon Mounds State Park for more detail
Dickson Mounds Museum Visitor Information:
http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/dickson/geninfo.html
Dickson Mounds Museum Permanent Exhibits information:
http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/dickson/exhibitions.html
Field Trip #6: Saturday June 16, 2007 - 7:30 AM - 11:30 am
St. Paul, Indiana: Fossils - Crinoids, Trilobites
We have been given another chance at St. Paul, Indiana. A trip is scheduled for Saturday, June 16 7:30am until 11:30am (NOTE: Indiana is on Daylight Savings this year so it is 6:30am to 10:30 am Chicago time). NOBODY under 18 years of age and this is nonnegotiable.
Limited to 20 people and ages 18 and up. This is a working quarry so hard hats are required. Directions will be posted as soon as available.
Field Trip #7: Saturday September 15, 2007 8:45 AM
Lone Star quarry. Fossils Sharks Teeth
Age limit of 13 and above. Children must be supervised by parent. Hard Hats Required.
Meet at the Lone Star Quarry outside of Olgesby, Illinois at 8:45 A.M.. Take I-80 to Exit 81, South Hy 178. Take South Hy 178 south across the Illinois River. Turn right at Highway 71. Go past East 651st Road. Look for the Lone Star Quarry sign at the next road. Turn there and park along the road. The quarry entrance will be locked. Total distance from Hanover Park to Olgesby is 97 miles.
For Pictures from ESCONI Field Trips 2007
Field Trip #8 September 22,23 2007 - Braceville, Illinois 9:00 A.M. Mazon Creek Fossils
We will be collecting Mazon Creek concretions from a old spoil pile. Hard Hats are not required. Boots are recommended. An Estwing rock hammer is the best tool. A small shovel is helpful. Knee pads, backpacks, fanny packs, extra clothes (you will get wet and muddy) are also a plus. Bring a bucket for the fossils
