{"id":33026,"date":"2023-07-07T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/four-corners-gem-and-mineral-club-celebrates-76-years\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:05:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:05:20","slug":"four-corners-gem-and-mineral-club-celebrates-76-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/four-corners-gem-and-mineral-club-celebrates-76-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club celebrates 76 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Cindy
Cindy Pugsley, chairwoman for the 69th annual Gem and Mineral show, solders stones in the clubhouse workshop on Wednesday. Pugsley said it took an entire year to plan this year\u2019s gem show. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Nestled behind the Brookside Motel on north Main Avenue, a small turquoise house has stood as the Four Corners Gem and Mineral Clubhouse for more than seven decades. While the passing of time may have left its mark on the weathered siding and caused the vibrant paint to chip away, inside lies a sanctuary where discovery and wonder flourish.<\/p>\n

The Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club celebrates its 76th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest nonprofits in Durango. Within the walls of the house, a community of gem and mineral fanatics share passions of Earth\u2019s enduring marvels.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really has changed a lot of people\u2019s world, I mean given them an outlet to pursue new interests and learn,\u201d said David Gonzales, Gem and Mineral Club president. \u201cPardon the pun but, it\u2019s a gem in the rough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gonzales, a geologist and professor of geosciences at Fort Lewis College, has been a club member for over a decade and served as president since 2022. The club elects a new president every two years, and candidates can serve up to two terms. Gonzales labeled himself as the rock hound of the group.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been fascinated by Earth history and the complexities of geology,\u201d he said. \u201cI like going out and just experiencing how rocks have influenced the place we live.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gem and Mineral Club unites two distinct realms: the artistry of jewelry and the science of geology. The club allows enthusiast from both worlds to blend their interests and collaborate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try to educate people about the synergistic balance between geology and the art world,\u201d Gonzales said.<\/p>\n

\"A
A small house located across from Durango High School behind the Brookside Motel has been the Four Corners Gem and Mineral Clubhouse for 76 years. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

An alley across from Durango High School on west 24th Street leads to the front door of the Gem and Mineral Clubhouse. The small abode contains a fully equipped lapidary studio and a complete metal smith and casting shop. Here, members have everything they need to cut, grind and polish stones, and craft jewelry.<\/p>\n

Members can use the clubhouse\u2019s resources during open shop hours, usually held four times a week. Members also have the opportunity to participate in classes taught by skilled artists and professionals that range from metal sawing to polishing stones for ring-making.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had a number of members start with taking classes and practicing their craft and then become established retailers in Durango,\u201d Gonzales said.<\/p>\n

The club recently embarked on a two-day field trip to the Last Chance Mine in Creede. Members searched for colorful amethyst and minerals in the area and were led on a tour of the mine.<\/p>\n

\"Gem
Gem and mineral club members can use the clubhouse to attend workshops, create their own jewelry and polish stones. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
\n

If you go<\/h4>\n

The Four Corners Gem and Mineral show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Besides field trips, open shops and classes, the club also puts on the annual Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. This year will be the club\u2019s 69th show.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will have over 60 vendors and expect thousands of people to come through,\u201d said Cindy Pugsley, show chairwoman.<\/p>\n

Four years ago, Pugsley inherited 75 buckets of rocks and petrified wood from her husband\u2019s grandfather. Seeking guidance, she joined the Gem and Mineral Club to learn what she could do with them. She quickly mastered silversmithing and stone laying, and now devotes three days a week to working at the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur club includes so many interesting people that have so much knowledge to share,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have geologists, mass production artists, young people, old people and I love being a part of that community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy Pugsley polishes a stone using tools at the Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club clubhouse. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Pugsley has spent the last 11 months organizing this years show. She said the event runs solely on volunteers and raises money for the club, which they hope to put toward finding a new clubhouse.<\/p>\n

Gonzales compared gems and minerals to plants. He believes humans are naturally drawn to earth materials, which is why people decorate their homes with plants or polished minerals and why jewelry is made with stones.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything that our Earth creates is intriguing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing that this particular club has been able to examine geology and keep its momentum for so many years. It\u2019s a special place in Durango.\u201d<\/p>\n

glanderyou@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"The
The Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club is one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club clubhouse offers a lapidary studio where members can cut and polish stones. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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