Gilsum Rocks!

Forty eight years ago a Gilsum, N.H. postmaster and barber (and apparently an avid rock hound and collector) had an idea to start a “rock swap” in his hometown. The idea was not so far fetched in this tiny town about 10 miles north of Keene, since it was home to many commercial mines that operated until the 1940s that produced feldspar, mica and beryl.

While those mines have long been closed down (although one, the Beauregard Mine is available to mineral clubs by reservation only) the tradition of rocks and minerals lives on with the annual Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show.

In late June this otherwise sleepy town of 807 residents comes alive (yup, it rocks!) when 6,000 to 8,000 people from all over the country roll in to attend the show. The show features about 60 dealers, swappers, collectors and distributors who buy, sell or even swap (which was the original intent of the show 48 years ago) rocks and minerals of all stripes including beryl, quartz crystals, semi-precious stones and more. The displays include not only rough cuts of these rocks, but also fossils, prized collections and semi-precious stones fashioned into beautiful jewelry.

The weekend activities include educational presentations on how semi-precious gemstones are extracted and made into jewelry and how to begin prospecting for minerals yourself. You can also crack a geode, pan for minerals and try your luck at the diamond dig site.

The town of Gilsum opens it arms to visitors for the weekend and features other events all weekend long including a daily pancake brunch, bake sale, book sale, chicken barbeque dinner and a traditional Saturday night New England ham and bean supper with all-you-can-eat homemade pies.  For overnight accommodations, contact one of the local B&Bs, Inns or Cottages.

The Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show takes place this year on June 23 and 24, 2012 at the Gilsum Elementary School fields, Route 10 in Gilsum, just north of Keene, N.H. (about a 2-hour drive from Boston). Show hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the event is free, although donations are appreciated; the proceeds from contributions are earmarked for the town’s youth recreation and community programs.

And this year, as a special tribute to the originator of the event, Francis “Bunk” Malony’s entire rock collection will be on display on Saturday at the Gilsum Historical Society from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

If you love rocks and minerals – or you just love a great community event -- this is a show that you cannot miss! For more information visit Gilsum Rocks!