The 59th Rock and Gem Show in Sweet Home drew 2,306 people to the Activities Gymnasium at the high school Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors got to see exhibits of polished picture agates, agatized Easter eggs, slabs of petrified wood, local carnelian agate, valuable local Holley blue agate, artifacts from South America and jewelry carved from precious stones.
Sweet Home’s Bob Waibel won the People’s Choice award, for which attendees turned in ballots indicating their favorite display of the show. Joe and Emily Start, former Sweet Home residents who now live in Silverton, placed second. Jim and Diane Coon of Tillamook took third.
Waibel’s winning display consisted of his collection of Holley Blue Agate and a meteorite found locally by a family member several generations ago. Holley Blue is today sold by the carat and can be found in jewelry settings of rings, earrings, pins and necklaces, but is no longer mined.
“This is the place to find unusual jewelry that sparks your interest in the natural resources of Oregon,” said spokeswoman Mona Waibel, Bob’s wife, who was one of the 100 volunteers who helped put the show together. “In 1948 the first Rock and Mineral Show brought in 4,400 onlookers to see the displays. But of course there were less distractions from other gatherings in 1948 times.”
Several dealers sold specimens of tiger eye and opal jewelry; rocks cut into spheres; large specimens of purple amethyst and uncut stones.
And hundreds of children enjoyed colorful Easter eggs filled with polished rocks that were given to each child attending. Youngsters also bought inexpensive grab bags filled with beautiful polished rocks, and tried their hand at spinning a wheel to win prizes.
Winners were announced for competitive egg carton exhibits created by children. They were: 8-10 year group – first, Tiana Lander of Lebanon; second, Nathan Kinkade of Albany; third – a tie between Shea Fritz of Lebanon and Emma Runyan of Corvallis. In the 11-13 year group, Austin Mizsei of Sweet Home took first, followed by Anna Meyer of Lebanon in second and Bobby Johnson of Sweet Home, third.
Members of the Sweet Home Rock and Gem Club sponsor the annual event and contribute door prizes that are given out every hour Saturday and Sunday. Seventeen people won raffle prizes at the end of the weekend show.
“It was a very successful weekend,” said club President Larry McDonald
For information concerning Rock Club membership, contact the Waibels at 367-3803 or Joe Cota at 451-2740.
Interested new Rock Hounds are always invited to attend the meetings on the second Wednesday of the month. Expert rock hounders attend and are available to answer questions.