By Kimberly Gasuras

CRESTLINE – Dorcas Schreck is one of many people that made their way to the Nature Center at Lowe Volk Park on Saturday for the annual Rock and Fossil Day.

Schreck, a second-grade teacher in Crestline, said she brought her three foster daughters to the event.

“They wanted to come with me. They love it here at the nature center,” Schreck said.
Josh Dyer, a naturalist for the Crawford County Park District, said the event occurs every year to celebrate the earth’s history and the geology of Crawford County.

“If you can’t grow it, you mine it,” Dyer said of the many minerals and rocks used for a variety of things such as salt for cooking, gypsum shed in dry wall and limestone that is used in the foundations of houses and buildings.

Gaylord Abrams and his wife, Kay, have traveled thousands of miles to mine for various rocks that Gaylord cuts to create beautiful gems.

“My brother cut some and I thought it was neat. He only did it about three or four times and here I am, still doing it after 50 years,” Gaylord said with a laugh.

Gaylord and Kay are members of the Richland Lithic and Lapidary Society.

“Gaylord and Kay are so interesting to talk with and the stones they have are absolutely gorgeous,” said Erin D’Ettorre who came to the event with her husband, Joe, from their home in Upper Sandusky.

Dyer said many people have been interested in checking out the Ice Age display at the nature center.

“Back in the seventies, parts of a mastodon were located near Sulphur Springs. Recently, a rib was found in a nearby creek,” Dyer said.

Dyer said that he and others from the park district dug in the area in 2009 to see if they could locate more parts of the mastodon.

“We did not find other parts of the mastodon, but we did find beaver-chewed sticks from at least 10,000 years ago,” Dyer said.

The Ice Age display will be available for viewing in the coming weeks.

For more information, contact the Crawford Park District office at 419-683-9000. Look for information on other programs offered by the Crawford Park District by visiting their website at www.crawfordparkdistrict.org or by visiting their Facebook page.