By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
It was rocks or bust at Lowe-Volk Park on Saturday as the Crawford Park District held its annual Rock ‘n’ Fossil Day.
For over a decade the Nature Center at Lowe-Volk Park has saluted for those who are about rocks, and from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, it was no different as rock aficionados of all ages paid visit to the event. Some came to show off their collections, others others to seek information on their found treasures, and the curious to see the rocks, fossils and minerals on display.
Showing off a portion of his collection was Richard Casto of Edison, Ohio. Castro explained that he enjoys stones with a little bit of history behind them.
“These are just part of the collection I got, and when I need to know what something is called I ask a fellow from the Lapidary Society, and he’s the one that fills me in on it. I love stones and rocks and fossils, and I am also into Indian artifacts as well. I come up for the Arrowhead Day too.”
Casto explained how he got into collecting stones.
“I have always loved stones, but approximately 10 years ago, my brother who lives just down past the Mt. Gilead State Park, he had a pond built, and they dug up a whole bunch of things when they were digging the hole for the pond. It got me hooked. I got a hold of the Ohio History Connection, . . . they sent Jeb Bowman over, and he spent a couple days with me. He encouraged me more and more to collect, and I got carried away with it.”
Partnering with the Richland Lithic and Lapidary Society as well as Ohio History Connection for the event, Crawford Park District Naturalist Josh Dyer spoke about the collection that was provided by the Ohio History Connection which will stay on display at the Nature Center into February.
“Recently we have been partnering with the Ohio History Connection in getting some different display items from their natural history collection,” Dyer said. “This year we have the ice age mammal exhibit, which will actually stay here through the middle of February. So people will be able to come back if they can’t make it today, and check out the mastodon femur, a giant beaver skull, mammoth tooth, and just some really neat items from the Pleistocene and Ice Age era here in Ohio.”
At noon visitors to the Nature Center were treated to a presentation on the Ice Age mammals by Ohio History Connection’s Dave Dyer. Dave Dyer spoke about a few of the Ice Age mammals found in Crawford County.
“There have been three mastodons found right in Crawford County, and most of those were in the late 1800s, but we always tell people there is probably a lot more mastodons out there under the ground waiting to be found. So if people find bones, call us.”
Jessica Sullivan brought her son Cedric Evans to view the displays at Lowe-Volk Park. They spoke about their favorite part of the Rock ‘n’ Fossil Day.
“There is a lot of rocks and fossils, that is pretty neat,” Evans said. “My favorite would probably be the man who had the polished stones on display. It looked like paintings.”
“I just like being here and having the day off work, spending time with my friends and my son, and I also like the fluorescent mineral display,” Sullivan added.
Chelsea Gottfried explained that she would be utilizing the day as a learning tool.
“The boys both really like the rocks and fossils,” Gottfried said. “I actually home school them, so we are going to be learning fossils next, and I figured it would be a perfect learning opportunity for them.”
The Crawford Park District also had rocks and minerals on display along with how they are utilized such as lead being used in car batteries. For those interested in what lurks inside a geode, Park District Naturalist Lisa Bogard was opening the geodes with a rock saw and giving samples to those who wished to take one home with them.