As part of the run up to ESCONI's 70th Anniversary, here is Flashback Friday post #23. If you have pictures or stories to contribute, please send them over to esconi.info@gmail.com. Thanks!
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Here is part of the 20th Anniversary issue of The Earth Science News. It lists many of the ESCONI events in the years 1965 to 1969.
Wilbur Rath & ESCONI Exhibit Muskegon Show 1964
Slide from Gale Law made on August 1967
Dick Ade, Dorothy & John Ade (L-R) Muskegon Show 1964
Paleontology Field Trip Hiway House Motel Godfrey,IL May 28,1966
Earth Science Club Northern Illinois
November, 1949 -- November, 1969
"On November 11, 1949; thirteen people, each interested in some phase of the Earth Sciences, met in the basement of W. H. Allaway in Downers Grove, Illinois, to discuss their common interest."
The peeple present were:
Helen Allaway
W. H. Allaway
Bob Beck
Herb Beck
Leroy Beghtol
Roy Beghtol
Arnie Besser
Jay Farr
Steven T. Norrell
Gay Spiesman
Dr. I. G. Spiesman
Donald Thyer
Harry Thyer
At the third meeting on January 6, 1950, sixty-two persons were present, twenty-seven became members by paying dues and the following slate of officers was elected.
Chairman W. H. Allaway
Vice-Chairman Roy Beghtol
Recording Secretary Herb Beck
Corresponding Secretary Jay Farr
Treasurer S. T. Norvell
Historian-Curator Ethel Whitney
In the intervening years, ESCONI has grown, prospered and changed. A ten-year history was published in the Earth Science News in 1959 and the years 1960 to 1964 were covered in a fifteen-year history published on our 15th anniversary. On this, the twentieth anniversary of the beginning of our club, the last five years of ESCONI's life are summarized.
*1965*
Under the leadership of president John Ade, the 555 members of ESCONI enjoyed ten regular meetings and ten organised field trips as well as a club sponsored swap session. The study groups of Paleontology, Minerology, Lapidary, and Archaeology met regularly. The Restoration Workshop was in progress under the direction of Wilbert Rath and resulted in many memorable reconstructions. As a result, Dick Ade wove a rug (or was it a blanket) on his homemade Navaho loom at the annual indoor field trip and the "Plant Life Through the Ages" exhibit was a focal point of the Midwest Federation Convention at Evansville, Indiana.
At the convention the Earth Science News, under the editorship of Jean Reynolds, was named the Best Bulletin in the Midwest, Tom Cesario had the Best Junior Exhibit and Welter Kean had the best Faceting Exhibit. ESCONI received a Meritorious Service Award for the "Outstanding reproduction of a Pennsylvanian 'Coal Forest' which sets a new standard for life-like displays, and for excellence in Educational Exhibits." Dr. Ben Hur Wilson was awarded the title of Midwest Federation Honorary President and Verne Montgomery was elected Midwest Federation Vice-President.
Fluorite became the Illinois State Mineral partly through the local efforts of George Gelakoski and Louis Martin.
Charter member Jay Farr was awarded honorary membership in ESCONI.
Deceased members included Wilbur L. Hoff, Steven T. Norvell, and Elizabeth Farr.
*1966*
Jim Konecny took up the reins of leadership as president of the club. The February program titled "The Moon-Some Facts, Some Fiction and Soce Folklore" may have helped prepare members for the "moon rocks" of 1969. A close relationship between the Field Museum and ESCONI resulted in extensive study of collections from the Peabody Coal Mine, Pit 11 by Dr. E. Richardson and members of the museum staff.
At the Midwest Federation Convention Verne Montgomery was elected president and Josaph Lizzadro xwas named an honorary member.
ESCONI expanded in its involvement in junior groups with the organization of the Mokena Juniors. Junior groups also existed in Downers Grove and Berwyn at this time.
Through the ceaseless efforts of Harry Matthies, the club reached the 100% participation level in the AFMS Scholarship Foundation drive by contributing one dollar for each active member. This fund's purpose is to produce scholarships for students in the Earth Sciences. ESCONI received second place in an AFMS sponsored contest for publishing the most news about the AFMS Scholarship Foundation. The $15 prize was placed in the Scholarship Fund.
The loss of Dr. F. L. Fleener and Dr. Ben Hur Wilson was mourned by the Many members who knew them.
*1967*
A full agenda of meetings and field trips kept ESCONI members active throughout the year. A special Photography workshop, conducted by Gale Law, met several times.
The Midwest Federation Convention resulted in a blue ribbon in the Junior Division for J. C. Konecny and the Junior Division Trophy for David Douglass. Max Hilmer received a white ribbon in Minerology. In the Fossil Division, Sylvia Konecny and the Georges received blue ribbons, Jim Konecny received a red ribbon and the Matthies received a white ribbon. Doris Kemp and the Lizzadro Museum entered non-competitive displays. ESCONI received the Outstanding Club Exhibit Award.
Earl and Mary Cornwall were named honorary members of the Midwest Federation.
Harry Nelson was listed among the deceased.
*1968*
The office of club president passed to Calvin George. Membership rose to 780 total members, an astounding figure.
June Douglass organised a dsplay workshop which was presented by the Kemps.
ESCONI reached the 200% level of contributions to the AMFS Scholarship Fund through the continuing efforts of Harry Matthies.
On August 24th,-the club was named an AMFS "All American Federation Club" for "Outstanding Service to Members, to their community, to others."
At the Midwest Federation Convention in Normal, Illinois, the list of ESCONI participants was lengthy. The American Junior Trophy in Fossils was won by David Douglass while J.C. Konecny was awarded the Midwest Junior Trophy for Archaeology. The George family received the American Trophy in Educational Exhibits and Jim Konecny received a blue ribbon for his Educational Exhibit. The Matthies won a blue ribbon in the Fossil Division and the Prepps displayed Eskimo carvings non-competitively. The Earth Science News was judged the 10th best bulletin in the Midwest.
A new junior group began to meet regularly in Lockport as ESCONI continued to expand its youth program.
The Meritorious Service Award for members who have given "long and meritorious service to ESCONI" was instituted by the Executive Committee. The first recipients of the award were:
Earl and Mary Cornwell
Orval and Mary Fether
Max and Hazel Hillmer
Bill and Wylma Kelly
Harold and Ethel McCleery
Jerry and Martha Prepp
Harry and Nellie Witmer
During the year, Claude Warren and George Mallot passed away.
*1969*
In this year of our twentieth anniversary ESCONI is well represented in the Midwest Federation. Jean Reynolds is Secretary, Verne Montgomery is Director of Supplies and Information, Dick Ade is Archaeology Division Chairman, Tom Wheatly is Illinois State Vice-President for the fifth consecutive year and A. A. Catlin is Assistant for Nomenclature.
At the Midwest Federation Convention in Murdo, S.D., ESCONI received its second Meritorious Service Award.
A new junior group was formed in Western Springs under the guidance of Dorothy Hart, bringing the number of such groups to five. The Berwyn group is led by Barbara Stvan, the Downers Grove group by Bill Popp, the Lockport group by Connie Johnson, and the Mokena group by Charlene,Crenscenzo.
A special meeting of persons interested in microminerals and microfossils has met and plans to meet again.
ESCONI's first chairman, Bill Allaway has been named Honorary President of the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois by the membership at the October meeting.
The ESCONI Meritorious Service Award was bestowed upon:
John and Dorothy Ade
Miles and Thelma Gates
Anton and Viola Sobolik
Members were saddened by the death of Max Hillmer and Margarett Cunningham.
