Attention all history enthusiasts!

 

By Margi Jenks

 

If you are a fan of the programs on the History Channel, then you should join us at the Crater of Diamonds State Park on Saturday, August 4^th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.  For the second year we will be celebrating John Huddleston Heritage Day.  On August 8, 1906 John Huddleston found the first diamond down at the southern edge of the present diamond search area.  As a way to mark that date we are presenting speakers who will talk about various aspects of diamond mine history. 

 

Because this year is the 40^th anniversary of the diamond mine becoming an Arkansas State Park, one of our guest speakers is Jim Cannon.  Cannon was the second Crater of Diamonds State Park superintendent.  He started working as superintendent at the Crater of Diamonds in July, 1973 after being a superintendent for one year at Lake Dardanelle State Park.  He had graduated from Arkansas Technical University with a degree in park administration.  Cannon was the Crater superintendent for next 18 years.  He went on to be the Region 4 Superintendent from 1991-2009.  Region 4 includes the Crater of Diamonds State Park, so he continued his close association with the park.   Therefore, he will have many stories to tell about the early history of the park and the many changes that have happened since those days.  

 

Interpreter Margi Jenks will also be speaking.  Her topic is the pre-state park commercial tourism of the late 1940’s to 1969.  This period included many colorful characters, as well as some of the Crater’s biggest diamond finds. She will tell the stories of the people who first put the Crater of Diamonds on the map as a place for tourists from all over the United States to visit for an experience like no other.

 

Finally, Interpreter Waymon Cox will introduce us to the early diamond mining history through his living history prospector character.  As that early diamond prospector he will bring to life the experiences, both bad and good, of those early diamond miners.

 

The program is free and open to the public.  It will be held in the visitor center theater.  As part of the program we will test the audience’s knowledge of diamond mine history in a Jeopardy-like game.  So, join us for a cool afternoon of diamond mine stories on a probably hot August afternoon.

 

Search area last plowed:  June 7, 2012; Most recent significant rainstorms:  July 8 and 14, 2012

 

Total diamonds found in 2012: 291

 

Diamonds registered for July 5 - July 14, 2012 (100 points = 1 carat): 

 

July 1 - Abigail Steinbrecher, Englewood, FL, 9 pt. white; Alexandra Steinbrecher, Englewood, FL, 10 pt. yellow; Devin Sypien, Lecanto, FL, 5 pt. brown

 

July 2 - Danielle Smith, Keller, TX, 18 pt. brown

 

July 3 - John Kavanagh, Tahlequah, OK, 52 pt. yellow

 

July 4 and 5 - No diamonds were registered

 

July 6 - Jim Graham, Prescott, AR, 3 pt. brown, 10 pt. brown

 

July 7 - David Anderson, Murfreesboro, AR, 4 pt. white, 8 pt. brown, 12 pt. white, 14 pt. white; Keegan Mount, Austin, TX, 55 pt. brown

 

July 8 - Tod Swett, Fort Worth, TX, 1 pt. yellow

 

July 9 - No diamonds were registered

 

July 10 - Timothy Gray, Royal, AR, 6 pt. white, 13 pt. brown

 

July 11 - No diamonds were registered

 

July 12 - Daniel & Jessica Kinney, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 2 pt. white

 

July 13 - Ryan Stevens, Elgin, TX, 21 pt. white; Kenneth Shoemaker, Murfreesboro, AR, 15 pt. yellow

 

July 14 - Ron Jenkins, Carlisle, AR, 3 pt. yellow, 7 pt. brown