BBQ and Fossil Dig 05 April 2008
Pictures and Story by
Lt/C Lorraine B. Ryan, S, Administrative Officer

The rolling hills of Bonnie and Steve’s 60+ acre farm was the site for our April Family Day. Thank goodness for barns, outbuildings and garages.  The weather didn’t cooperate but because of Steve’s insight, he cleared out one of his outbuildings so that George Powell, our speaker, could back his car into the building, unload his display and hold our meeting. Another section of the building had Clay’s trailer loaded with “goodies” from Aurora so that we could all dig through it and find our treasures.

 

George has been collecting fossils for 45 years even before he moved to Greenville from Falls Church, Virginia.  He considers himself an “amateur” although many would doubt that statement.  He is a member of the Friends of the Aurora Fossil Museum, and as such is a tour guide and conducts visitors to the PCS Phosphate Mine in Aurora where many of his specimens have come from.  His fossil collection is so extensive that he recently added a 1500 sq. foot addition onto his home in order to house his collection in his private museum.  Visitors come from throughout the east coast to visit his private collection and members of the Rocky Mount Power Squadron have also received an invitation to view it.

 

George has found over 120,000 fossils and has donated over 20,000 to schools and museums, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.  His complete set of an extinct shark’s (a false mako) teeth (114) was cause for a celebration in 1996 when he donated them to the Smithsonian instead of accepting $100,000 for a Japanese businessman to add them as a display in his outdoor pool.  He has also donated the tusk and skull of a new species of walrus to the museum.George’s explanation of the numerous fossils that he brought to show us, along with assisting us in determining what kind of fossils we found were invaluable in making this event a “one of a kind” special day for all in attendance.

 

Unfortunately, George could not stay and enjoy our backyard BBQ and hospitality as he had to get home to meet his visitors from a SC Museum that were in town to dig at the mine and view his collection. We grilled, ate the various homemade goodies and enjoyed Bonnie & Steve’s home for the remainder of the day. Even though the rain came down in buckets and the thunder roared, the warmth of our fellowship made it a great event!