Yesterday, my BlogBoost SiStar Martha's post celebrated National Fossil day!!
I was introduced to the work of my favorite fossil finder Thomas Condon as a child, when we visited the John Day fossil beds in E.astern Oregon.
An Irish immigrant, Thomas was 11 when his family arrived in NY in 1933. He studied both science and ministry, and met his wife in college. Condon first learned of the fossil beds East of Bend in 1862, and began excavating specimens in 1865. He sent them to the East coast for identification - and later tried to have them returned to Oregon.
Thomas Condon went on to teach college in Forest Grove and at the University in Eugene, and became the Oregon's first State Geologist in 1872.
In our Natural History class at WOU (then OCE) in the 1970s, with Dr Kenneth Walker, we studied Condon's work and the book Ancient forests of Oregon. I love that Condon found fossils of mesohippus - the 'middle horse' right here in Oregon!
He found fossils of early camals and other mammals, and of trees, including ginkgo and dawn redwood - from a time the climate in Eastern Oregon wasl warm and tropical!
Ginkgo was know as a Living tree, but Dawn Redwood - Metasequoia - was only known from fossils until the 1940s shortly after Chinese botanist Shigeru Miki named the species in 1941.
Dawn Redwood seeds were soon distributed to college and university campuses, and there is a lovely Dawn Redwood, on the Linfield University Campus, just a few blocks from me!
I've known this friend-tree for over 50 of it's 80 years, and visited this morning, to take these photos.
I admire Condon's ecumenical spirit, and his courage in preaching against slavery and discrimination in the 1860s (often enough, that this Irishman was called 'that black preacher!'). Oregon didn't allow slavery - but Klan presence was strong, and discriminatory laws enacted.
Thomas met his wife while they were in college, and they both encouraged their 5 daughters (as well as their sons) to attend college.
I admire Condon's fascination with the natural world and earth bones - rocks and fossils.
I love that he'd take people to see signs of the ancient earth, layers of rocks, fossils shells - and encouraged them to glimpse the progression of the earth and species over eons.
Let's Celebrate fossils, and the legacy of fossil finders like Thomas Condon!!
What a beautiful tribute to both Thomas Condon and the wonder of deep time! I love how you connected history, science, and personal memory; especially your lifelong bond with the Dawn Redwood, a living link to Oregon’s ancient past.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI so appreciate my parents, and my biologist former hubby and his family for so honoring the natural world, & being lifelong learners!
I appreciate you sharing this piece. I'm fascinated by the study of fossils.
ReplyDeleteIt is fascinating, isn't it?
DeleteOne of the professors (philosophy!) Is also an amateur Geologist, and spoke at a local eatery on the history of dinosaurs in Oregon - and more recent plants and animals.
Saber tooth tigers, wooly mammoths, those early horses...
Thomas Condon was definitely more than the state's first Geologist. You have showed his depth and breath as a nature lover, neighbor, husband and father. I haven't visited Oregon but it is on my bucklist. I will add seeing the Dawn Redwoods to my list must sees.
ReplyDeleteHe was indeed!
DeleteDawn redwood are most common on college campuses and sometimes parks or libraries.
We have both of the giant redwoods as well - which are lovely trees
I just love nature. :) So cool. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed it, Safrianna!
DeleteYes, let's celebrate! And what a beautiful tree!! I love the beauty and strength and wisdom of trees.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting introduction to this fossil hunter, and I didn't even know that you could find tree fossils and harvest the seeds - that is awesome. The tree is lovely and how nice that you have seen it flourish all these years.
ReplyDelete