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CLEAR Temp: 62 °F Wind: ENE at 5 mph Monday, May 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 15, 2003 Anonymous donation will double Crater Rock Museum’s size By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — An anonymous donor has offered his mineral collection and the money to house it to the Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Society, which operates the Crater Rock Museum. The donation will more than double the museum’s size at 2002 Scenic Ave., in Central Point. The donor, a retired engineer from Arizona, required that his name and the value of his collection remain anonymous as part of the agreement. Club President Frank Callahan said the three-part collection of nearly 200 top-quality specimens from more than 30 countries will put the local museum on a national scale. "Ten of the specimens are among the world’s best, having been evaluated by universities and mineral authorities," Callahan said. "All I can really say is we’re getting a very, very good thing." Examples of mineral specimens in the collection include a large rose quartz known as "Nosy Rosy," from Minas Gerais in Brazil; a unique cavansite (calcium vanadium silicate) from India; a green vivianite from Bolivia; a large, purple Guerrero quartz from Mexico; and, a rare, light-green Muzo, Colombia, emerald. The collection also includes wood sculptures from Indonesia and a U.S. glass art collection comprising works by students of famous glassblower Dale Chihuly. To house the collection and improve the museum, the building will be expanded from about 5,400 square feet to more than 12,000, Callahan said. The expansion will include a larger meeting hall, work room and gift shop. Callahan said the Roxy Ann Gem and Mineral Club will hold meetings in coming weeks to discuss the proposal and figure out what steps to take next. "As far as voting on the issues, it’s overwhelming approval," he said. "This is a rare opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime gift." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S