My Grandfathers Ellensburg Blue and rock Collection

[Lindamc]

My Grandfather's Ellensburg Blue and rock Collection

My grandfather was a rock hound in the 40's and 50's. He lived in Ellensburg, WA. When my father passed I inherited my grandfathers collection. I found one jar labelled ellensburg blue agate. I don't know what to do with them. They've been in the jar on his old cabinet in my living room for the last 12 years. I'll include some photos and also a copy of a 1952 article in the paper interviewing my grandpa about his hobby.

I'd love to hear thoughts on my collection. Thanks!

 

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[AMorgan]

Nice collection I like the rock cabinet too!

 

[gunsil]

There is a lot of this material on ebay, you can look it up there and look at completed listings or sold listings to see what it has been going for. If you like the prices you see you could sell it there. It is a popular stone for lapidaries. Let us see some of the other rocks he found!!

 

[BurntBear]

You inherited a "treasure" in many aspects. I personally wouldn't part with any of that. Beautiful collection!

 

[Lindamc]

Thank you all! I don't think I could part with it. I really think it's beautiful and have it all on display in my living room. I also have some of the old jewelry making pieces and an old price guide for them. My collection as a whole is really neat!

The cabinet itself is lovely. I Found out it was from the Seattle hospital. After I brought it home and was loading the rocks I saw something way in the back of it. I pulled out a letter of recommendation for someone applying for a job at the hospital dated 1919. There was also a wooden handled scalpel and hypodermic needles! I have included these items in the pictures below.

I took pictures of each shelf and drawers and a few of the other items from his collection I have out. I have no idea what any of it is other than the few things he had labelled and are still intact after all these years.

I would love some knowledge about these pretty things I posess.

 

[NCPeaches]

Absolutely beautiful collection and love the way you display them. I don't know a lot about stones, gems and such but collect the pretty ones too. My late husband was a "rock hound" and so am I and our boys. After he passed I went through his "rocks" trying to come up with a display idea. I have flower pots full of Almandine garnets local to my area that he mined and it looks like potato displays lol There are a few of those geode slices and even some fossils. Anyway, your display is awesome and gives me an idea on how to display our inherited rocks.

 

[gunsil]

Thanks for showing us the rest!! The cabinet is a real sweet piece. I see a bunch of different petrified wood pieces in the collection. A bunch of thunder eggs, and some geodes or geode slices. Pretty much what WA and OR rockhounds find. My grandfather was an Oregon rockhound and found many similar rocks.

 

[G Freeman]

My grandfather was a rock hound in the 40's and 50's. He lived in Ellensburg, WA. When my father passed I inherited my grandfathers collection. I found one jar labelled ellensburg blue agate. I don't know what to do with them. They've been in the jar on his old cabinet in my living room for the last 12 years. I'll include some photos and also a copy of a 1952 article in the paper interviewing my grandpa about his hobby.

I'd love to hear thoughts on my collection. Thanks! View attachment 1111582 View attachment 1111582

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Real cool Lindamc. Very very cool.

 

[BurntBear]

We will be glad to help you identify any specimens you have an interest in. Just take photos of individual specimens up close so we can see different characteristics and help you identify them. That's quite a collection and I'm sure this is only a part of what he came across in his days of rockhounding, collecting, etc!

 

[yakker]

Wow! Welcome and Thanks for the show Your grand dad had a keen eye for beautiful rocks- and you've done an excellent job displaying them. I'm looking forward to seeing a few individual specimens up close- and to learn what they are too Thanks again Lindamc Yakker

 

[DDancer]

I only hope my collection pass's on the way yours has I'm sure someone is smiling on ya. Very nice stuff. Thanks.

 

[unclemac]

since you are local, this is not a stretch for you....

J. Chapa Hernandez | Fine Jewelry | Bellevue, WA

take your blues to this guy. He is in Bellevue on Main street. He is very easy to talk to and extremely knowledgeable about blues, he actually lived and hunted the area for many years. People drop by with stuff all the time. His shop is more like a museum than a jewelry shop. He will let you know what you have, EBAY is FULL of fake blues, this guy knows the difference. You may have thousands of dollars in gem quality blues there, he can tell you. (he is also a buyer)...plus if you get him to talking, his stories are fantastic.

i mean THOUSANDS potentially....but is has to be "just right"