FRANKLIN AND STERLING HILL NEW JERSEY: THE WORLD'S MOST MAGNIFICENT MINERAL DEPOSITS
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Men of distinction

 

The mineral collector

 

Mineral Collections

 

Local Institutions

 

The specimen base

 

Local institutions

In the last thirty-five years, a number of local nonprofit institutions have been founded, have grown, and have been sustained in part by the support of the mineral-collecting community. Both of the local museums should be visited for a good overview; seeing only one deprives the visitor of a comprehensive experience. Schedules are available by telephone.

The Franklin Mineral Museum

 
 
 
  Figure 7-17. The “Zinc-Miner” statue in front of the Franklin Mineral Museum, sculpted by Carey Boone Nelson. Drawing by Dave Woods, used with permission.  
   

The Franklin Mineral Museum was founded by the Franklin Kiwanis Club to boost the economy of the local area after the closing of the Franklin Mine, and to honor its heritage. Opening officially on October 9, 1965, it has served the community continuously since (Gregory, 1965; Baum, 1971, 1975c, 1987b). The museum is located on Evans Street, in Franklin, across from the Buckwheat Open Cut of the Franklin Mine. There are extensive exhibits of local minerals including a magnificent exhibit of fluorescent minerals, together with mining memorabilia, a mine-replica, the zinc-miner statues, and access to the adjacent Buckwheat Dump for collecting. For the Franklin collector or researcher, the museum is a significant resource; in addition to specimens, a major archive is maintained. Many thousands of schoolchildren have been introduced to the local minerals here, and the museum, greatly expanded in 1991 (Cianciulli, 1991a), is justifiably a source of much community pride. The Franklin Mineral Museum was designated as a New Jersey Historical Site on September 24, 1971; it incorporates part of the old Taylor Mine engine-house. The 1995 telephone number is 201-827-3481, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 54, Evans Street, Franklin, NJ 07416.

The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society

Several groups of mineral collectors, including the members of the Franklin Mineralogical Association, coalesced in 1959 and founded a single group, the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society, which is dedicated to the study of the local minerals. The society has met continuously since then, functioning as the “family-glue” for local mineral collectors. Featuring lectures and informative discussions about the local minerals, meetings are held seven times per year. The society has continuously published a superb semi-annual journal, The Picking Table, which announces new discoveries, publishes original articles, abstracts Franklin research published elsewhere, provides accounts of local happenings, and serves as an archive. The society’s address is P.O. Box 146, Franklin, NJ 07416.

The Sterling Hill Mining Museum

The Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg is of very significant importance to the local mineral culture. The museum occupies the Sterling Mine site and structures and has preserved much of the modern Sterling Hill mining heritage. Insightfully founded by the energetic Hauck family, the museum’s creation involved the resurrection of an industrial site and its transformation into a fine museum, a great undertaking in which many persons were involved. It opened in June of 1990 and currently offers exciting in-mine tours, including fluorescent-ore chambers within Sterling Hill. It also provides superb exhibits of ores and machinery in the tunnels and outside, and exhibits of ores, minerals, mining memorabilia, and much more in the exhibit hall. Mineral collecting at on-site dumps is possible. The museum is in the National Register of Historic Places.  A description of the museum’s creation was given by Dunn and Kozykowski, Mineralogical Record, 22, 367-376 (1991). It is located at 30 Plant Street, Ogdensburg, New Jersey 07439, and is entered from Passaic Street. The 1995 telephone number is 201-209-7212. Also in Ogdensburg is the Old Schoolhouse and Firehouse Museum.

The Franklin-Sterling Gem and Mineral Show

The Franklin-Sterling Gem and Mineral Show was first held in October of 1956. It was started by the Franklin Kiwanis Club and is now run by the Franklin Mineral Museum. It was described in brief by Kozykowski (1982b). A special component of this show is an outdoor sell-and-swap area, known in the local argot as “The Pond.” In addition to exhibits and mineral dealers, this activity serves as an annual, synergetic, cultural event of magnetic force, bringing together the efforts of local collectors and dealers, The Franklin Mineral Museum, The Sterling Hill Mining Museum, and The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. It is the most important local mineral event of the year, is held in late September, and provides a delightful opportunity to delve into Franklin and Sterling Hill’s charms. Correspondence should be sent to the Franklin Mineral Museum.

 

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Copyright © 1995 by Pete J. Dunn
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This page created: January 11, 2001

 
CHAPTER 7. CULTURAL ASPECTS OF FRANKLIN AND STERLING HILL