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 , Carl Heisler, and Harry Lafavor 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.

Lapidary is practiced today in all three shops and our classes are always overflowing.
It is most often used for finishing unique minerals into gem stones. Silversmithing interest
has also flourished and has shifted toward designing and making elegant gold and 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.