CLUB HISTORY
WHEN THE LAPIDARY CLUB WAS "YOUNG"

This is Green Valley, a reference book by George Clizbe, shows a group of Lapidary Club "rock hounds" looking for mineral
specimens at a promising site. In the beginning, the focus of the Club was turning rock finds with special minerals into cabachons
(finished gemstones) of Mexican Lace, Tiger Eye, Turquoise, Malachite, Chrysoprase and Petrified Wood- all minerals found in
this area. This was in 1965 or 1966.

In these initial years, the Lapidary Club attracted a bevy of workers from all over the United States,
Canada and many foreign countries. At first, the Woodworkers and Lapidarians shared the same area until
the Woodworkers moved to the Maintenance Building in 1967.

The Lapidary Club added more rock cutting saws and polishing equipment from club membership dues
and miscellaneous income. The club membership grew and GVR appointed Carl Schubert to
supervise the lapidary work. The Club enjoyed rock hunts, displays in gem shows
and the Annual County Fair - which included talks by skilled and experienced rock hunters.

The first Fairs were for Club members only and were held outdoors around the East Center pool
in conjunction with the Annual October Parades. In its formative years,
Alex Hilstrom, Joe Laven, Frank Cameron and Mildred Philbin - contributed
much to the success and popularity of the Club. As interest in the Club grew,
GVR decided that additional facilities were necessary .

Lillian Monson and Carl Heisler, both longtime members of the Lapidary And Silversmithing Club
contributed the information for this article.

THE LAP1DARY CLUB MIDDLE YEARS

Through the mid-eighties, the Club was still heavily into rock hounding and most members were
kept busy with cutting large rocks on 18-inch saws and grinding them into finished gem stones
in each of the three shops. Inexpensive fully ground and polished stones made their appearance
from the Orient and became readily available in the two gem shows held yearly in Tucson.

Though lapidary is practiced today in all three shops, it is not as prevalent and most
often is used for finishing unique minerals into gem stones that are not available
otherwise.Silversmithing proved increasingly of more interest to use the readily available
gem stones and the interest shifted more toward designing and making silver jewelry.

Instruction was furnished by paid instructors until 2001 when the Club started using all volunteer
Club members for instructors. These volunteers initially offered low cost classes in Lapidary,
Silversmithing, Chain Making and Lost Wax Casting. Newly added in 2004 was Precious Metal Clay
and Dichroic (Fused) Glass added 2005. Approximately fifty of the Club members are teaching classes,
volunteering their time and expertise to make the various crafts available to all GVR residents
at minimum cost. There are classes of interest to both men and women and it is not necessary
to become proficient in all of the crafts to be able to make attractive jewelry.

The September and December Arts And Crafts Fair are operated by the Club.
Commissions from the Fairs and from Club member sales in the three facilities are used
to purchase and maintain all of the equipment in the three facilities at Desert Hills, East Center and West Center.
It is a commitment of the Club to be self-supporting and that GVR does not need to buy equipment,
furnish instructors or monitors.