This is Throwback Thursday #141. 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 sent them to [email protected]. Thanks!
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Last week, we had Bill Allaway's Holiday Letter in 1977. There was a reply, but it wasn't published until the April 1978 edition of the newsletter. The reply highlighted some of the work done to bring ESCONI into existence. The author of the reply is Marty (Martha) Prepp. She and her husband, Jerry, were very active in ESCONI for many years.
Jerry and Marty (Martha) Prepp (undated photo)
A REPLY TO BILL ALLAWAYS NOTE IN THE JANUARY ESCONI NEWS CONGRATULATING THE CONTINUOUS GOOD WORK THAT PREVAILS IN THE CLUB:
- Bill didn't tell you members it all started in his basement. Five young people (boys) asked his help in starting a rock club. They knew Bill's interest stemmed from his uncle.
- Bill didn't tell you the next meeting in January, 1950, these boys with their fathers elected officers and so ESCONI was formed.
- Bill didn't tell you he and Roy Bechtel issued the first news, while Stevens Norvell designed the front cover and it is still being used.
- Bill didn't tell you the meeting space at the Maywood Library outgrew itself and he, Bill, arranged for future meetings to be held in the auditorium in the high school in Downers Grove.
- Bill didn't tell you the adults interest grew and like wise the younger eager Juniors.
- Bill didn't tell you these Junior's interest was so great a separate day was arranged. Jay Farr was their leader by the way. Jay had been a math teacher.
- Bill didn't tell you the adults were anxious for additional knowledge in the sciences and so evening classes were formed with Dr. Ben Hur Wilson and Dr. Fleiner, both science teachers. Dr. Wilson was the creator of the Earth Science magazine.
- Bill didn't tell you back of these early individuals was a husband or wife boosting one another's interest as well as other member's.
And so Bill as you watch from rainy California, you can take pride in what you started.
-- Marty Prepp --
