This is Throwback Thursday #226. 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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The author of the poem below was Winifred Reutter (1909 - 1998) of White River, South Dakota. She is a noted on the South Dakota Hall of Fame as an author of books and poems. One of her books is "Prairie Poetry".
Winifred Reutter, of White River, SD, is one of the outstanding people who helped preserve the heritage of her area in writings dating back to the 1920’s and 30’s when she was a junior editor of Sunshine Magazine published at Sioux Falls, SD.
Early Dakota Days was one of Winifred’s awards winning County History Books. It was published in 1962. The previous year, her Mellette County Memories was published.
Reutter wrote a column titled “Cowbelle Notes” for the Hereford Journal, published out of St. Louis, MO. For 20 years, she wrote a monthly column for the Gem and Mineral Bulletin. She also contributed many stories to Dakota West and Dakota Farmer.
Prairie Poetry is a book written by Winifred Reutter. She also had her poetry published by Pasque Petals in 5 of their 8 publications. She is listed in Who’s Who under Bennette County Literature.
Winifred was a correspondent for the Associated Press and 10 years with the United Press International for the Argus Leader and the Rapid City Journal.
Winifred Reutter received the Dakota State College Award for Distinguished Contribution to South Dakota History.
The poem was dedicated to the Zeitner Museum, which refers to June Culp Zeitner. She is known for her "significant collection of gems and minerals", a portion of which is in the Smithsonian. She was the author of 9 books about gems and minerals, including -
- Midwest Gem Trails
- Midwest Gem Trails: The Great Lakes States
- Midwest Gem Trails: The Prairies States
- Appalachian Mineral and Gem Trails
- Southwest Mineral and Gem Trails
- South Dakota, Borglum’s Unfinished Dream
- How to Carve Jade and Gems
- Gem and Lapidary Materials
- Geodes
June won many awards and founded many Gem and Mineral clubs. Interesting note from "Dakota Matrix Minerals" - Assembled probably the largest mineralogical field trip ever in Murdo, SD in 1970 in which 2000 collectors participated. More information about June can be found here.
The Gem of the West passed away on October 11, 2009 at 93 years old. We lost a friend and mentor to us all. June Culp Zeitner passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. Up until her last days, June would sit comfortably in her chair, with a pile of mineral books aside her and a twinkle in her eye. That twinkle was always there. She was always thinking. You see, she had a few more books to write. Holy cow, she just co-authored a book called “Geodes” at 91 years old. She told me her next (yes, next) book was going to be a compilation of the national “State’s Stones” program, which she pioneered. To my amazement, she had a good start on that one but never quite finished it. Even at 93, June didn’t procrastinate.
June at 91, after publishing her last book "Geodes"
The Zeitners owned a hardware store in Mission and also the Zeitner Geological Museum. In the museum was a wonderful collection of petrified wood, fossils, artifacts, and rocks of all types. June volunteered to research and label the collection—a maneuver she thought might attract Albert's attention. It did, and soon he began inviting June on one-day collecting trips to the badlands. After spending a great deal of time together working on labeling and expanding the collection, Al and June were married.
It was in 1949 that the couple decided that work was getting in the way of what they really wanted to do: go field collecting. So June quit her job, and Al sold the hardware store, and they purchased a 31-foot travel trailer. The plan was to take a year off and travel the United States in search of minerals, fossils, and rocks. The year went by, but the two were not yet ready to settle down. They were having the time of their lives.
Winifred's poem "Rockitis" appeared in the September 1964 edition of the ESCONI newsletter.
ROCKITIS
Dedicated to Zeitner Museum and all other rockhounds!
by Winifred Reutter, White River, S. D.
If ever the rock-bug bites you,
You'll never be the same.
For the rock fever lasts forever
An exciting backbreaking game.You'll start some sunny morning,
Travel happy and weary miles.
Sunburn your nose and crick your back,
Looking over old rock piles.Your legs will ache from walking,
Also your head and every joint,
But you'll forget that all the minute
You find a Folsom point.You forget to eat your dinner,
While gathering fossil bones,
And thrill with great victory
Finding Fairburn agates and other stones.You'll pace across the burning sands,
Far from traveled highways,
To locate old camp sites
Used in olden days.Thru cacti and Badland wastes,
(Perhaps by rattlers terrified),
You'll search for fossil skeletons,
And woods long petrified.Out for a great adventure,
Foretting to eat or drink
You might make the "Great Discovery"
On this safari, you think.Stones and bones and artifacts,
Scientists and collectors treasures.
The fact you picked it up yourself
Multiplies the value beyond measure.Searching and studying rocks
Hard work but what a lark,
Always open season in every state
And fun from dawn to dark!Reading history backwards,
Reconstructing yesteryears,
By footprints and formations,
Made when dinosaurs were peersThere are gems of all colors and textures,
In natures treasure chest,
From hard obsidian to frail sand crystals,
Phosphorescents and all the restIn classifying and comparing specimen
Pleasant evening hours are spent.
(And the bottle passed around,
Is one of liniment!)You wonder how I know so well
A rockhounds pedigree?
Alas, I'm one myself, because,
The rock-bug once bit me!
