submitted by Mary Kocz, SRGMC
In the early 1980’s, a Viking rune stone was found at Powhatten, Ark., near Old Davidsonville State Park.
What? A Viking rune stone in Arkansas?
Freda Cruse Hardison, in her presentation “The Birth of the Ozarks,” will make known the trail of the Vikings, beginning 800 AD, from NE Canada traveling south, eventually leaving this Viking rune stone in Arkansas. They left not only their DNA but the names of places, dances, etc., as they and the Indians traveled south.
” The Birth of the Ozarks” presentation will be the feature at the Spring River Gem & Mineral Club (SRGMC) meeting Sept. 6, 10 a.m. at Thunderbird Center, 62 N. Lakeshore Rd. in Cherokee Village, Ark.
Born and raised in the foothills of the Ozarks on the White River, Hardison is interested in preserving local history. “When I was a child, I wanted to know more about what wasn’t in history books.” She is relentless in researching and dedicated to documenting the history of the Ozark region. Most of all, as a Sociologist, having earned her PhD at the University of California, San Diego, she is interested in the stories of people.
SRGMC meets monthly with programs given by experts in their field. “The Birth of the Ozarks” is one of our “Only in Arkansas” series, which focuses entirely on Arkansas, leading us to learn more about this beautiful state we live in. The Oct. 4 meeting is also an “Only in Arkansas” meeting. It will feature Mike Hanley, CEO of Terra-Intel, Head of Exploration, who recently discovered a large supply of rare earth in Melbourne, Ark.
Please note: There is a road closed in Cherokee Village, but check your GPS. There are several routes to Thunderbird Center.
Visitors are welcome at this free meeting. For those who enjoy the programs, support SRGMC by joining, which helps pay speaker fees and dues to the South Central Federation of Mineralogical Society, as well as paper expenses and parties. Dues are $15 for a single person and $25 for a couple/family. Perks of membership are participation in a monthly silent auction of mineral and fossil specimens, field trips, Club picnic and Christmas party. We invite all to a dutch-treat lunch with our speaker at an area restaurant near his/ route home after the meeting. For the Sept. 6 meeting, we’ve opted for Pizza Hut in Ash Flat, Ark.
SRGMC is a friendly club of “down to earth” people. We consistently select a restaurant where we can sit together, family style, to interact and get to know one another.
For further info, call 870-847-3109.
