For me the hobby started back in 1965 while attending Newburyport High School. I became interested in rocks and minerals while studying earth science.

My Earth Science teacher, several classmates, and myself were the fore founders of the Newburyport High School Geology Club in my junior year. I was elected President for the first two consecutive years (how ironic). We took mineral collecting filed trips to a few mines in Maine. This was the start of my mineral collecting endeavors.

After high school I continued collecting rocks and minerals until I went into the service in 1968. Four years later when I returned to civilian life, I moved to Exeter, New Hampshire where I lived until 1977. After moving to Raymond, New Hampshire in 1978, I joined the Southeastern Mineral Club, which met in Rochester, New Hampshire at that time.

I met many knowledgeable collectors, one of which was Bob Janules. Bob and I collected a lot together back in the 80’s. In 1988 I met Paul Beaudette of Springvale, Maine who introduced me to faceting. I purchased a faceting machine and started cutting gemstones. I was self taught, learning by trial and error. After about five years of faceting for myself I found my ability to facet quality gemstones was apparent and so I started cutting gemstones for other mineral collectors. Faceting gemstones for other mineral collectors has given me great satisfaction being able to transform their gem crystals or gem rough into a beautiful brilliant gemstones.

After leaving the Southeastern Club in 1990, I joined the Capital Mineral Club. Here again I met many new friends and have enjoyed many field trips learning more and more about the hobby.

With the education and knowledge I have gained over the years, I hope to inspire and influence others in "THE HOBBY OF MINERAL COLLECTING AND THE ART OF LAPIDARY."

Respectfully submitted by

Bill Brown

Ralph Lingard of Barrington, NH is selling his mineral collection. He has quite a variety of minerals from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and other states and countries. Please contact Bill Brown at 895-4157 or Vince Valade at

497-3935 to set up an appointment to view Ralph’s collection.