I must admit that when I got home from work that fateful day, I was a bit rushed. I had just enough time to throw down a sandwich, change clothes and get to wherever it was that I was rushing off to (probably to a bowling alley). Marty mentioned that we had a phone call from someone named John Walther, who had found our names in the NNS Members Manual. He wanted to know if we were interested in starting a grotto? I thought, "Nice idea, but there can't be enough people around HERE who are interested in caving to make it work." Marty and I were enthusiastic novices who hardly knew a cave from a hole in the ground. I so doubted that the idea had any merit, that I didn't get around to answering John's call till a few days later. However, after my first dubious reaction, I realized that I did know one person who caved, Clay Johnson, and I had also heard of another, Dr. Ted Century. John and I made arrangements to meet for coffee in a few days, in the meantime, we would keep prospecting for members. The call I made to Clay Johnson was golden! Not only was he interested, but he gave me the names and numbers of the friends that he caved with; Kevin Rasmus, Walt Rudy, and Tim Mikesell. They were all interested, but only Kevin was able to make it to our planning meetings. Ted Century also indicated his willingness to help. At our first planning meeting, October 21, we decided to have the organizational meeting on November 18 at the Normal Public Library, and we split up the publicity duties. I volunteered to do a newsletter (little did I know...) and draft a Constitution and By-laws. We held one more meeting on November 11th to iron out those last-minute details.
Marty and I had seen the newspaper article on Don Coons' upcoming trip to China. Finding his phone number in the Members Manual, we decided to take a chance and give him a call. He thought that the idea of starting a new grotto in central Illinois was a great one! Not only that, but he would put on a slide show. Further, he had met Jeannie and Bob Lawrence, whom he thought would also be interested. This was getting better and better! Little did we know.......
Following is a brief history of the NNG, gleaned from the pages of the NNN. The first issue's cover featured some original computer art? by yours truly. The events leading up to the forming of the grotto were recounted and the November 18th meeting that marked the founding of the NNG was described. The founding members were: John Walther, Jim Jacobs, Marty Jacobs, Ted Century, Don Coons, Clay Johnson, David Korn, Tom Korn, Greg Kwasny, Bob Lawrence, Jeannie Lawrence, Kevin Rasmus, and Debra Smith. Since we had to be out of the Library by 9:00, Marty and I hosted the after- meeting get-together. Don presented a slide show covering his trip to Chicobul Cave in Belize. The first grotto trip was planned. Kevin Rasmus would lead a trip to Wayne's Lost, in Indiana.
The cover of the second NNN (February, 1992) featured more computer art, (bats flying over a town), but the picture was borrowed from a clip-art program. The NNG's official designation by the NSS as grotto #363 was celebrated. New member T.J. Forman was welcomed. I wrote a report about our first trip to Illinois Caverns, and a return trip was planned for February 22. Three French exchange students, cavers all, visited the February 10th meeting. The idea of a grotto logo arm patch was first advanced by Jeannie.
The April, 1992 issue was also adorned with Jim's computer cave art. New members Tim Mikesell, Jim Rogers, Tim Sickbert, Saad El- Zanati and John Marquart were welcomed. Not only was the February trip to Illinois Caverns well attended, but a reporter and photographer from the Pantagraph went with us. We earned a page and a half story in the Sunday paper, complete with pictures. Kevin Rasmus reported on a March 14 trip to Doghill/Donahue. At the last meeting, Kevin and Walt Rudy gave a demonstration of their ascending gear.
Another computer art picture, this time a lady caver demonstrating the "frog" ascending system graced the cover of the May, 1992 issue. New members: Dale Walker, Larry Avery. Jeannie Lawrence and Marty Jacobs passed the rappelling class at ISU. Since all meetings since the first one had been held at Jim and Marty's house, Deb Smith volunteered to offer her house for alternate meetings. Don Coons reported that he had made initial inquiries for access to the Blackball Mine for a survey project. Jeannie attended the MVOR and wrote a trip report on Mystery Cave. Another trip to Illinois Caverns, this time with a reporter from the Peoria Journal Star. The Memorial day weekend trip to Cave River Valley, and another trip to Wayne's Lost were announced.
July, 1992 featured our first photographic cover, a Steve Smedley photo of Armon Krueger leaning on the "Take nothing but pictures...etc." sign outside of Illinois Caverns. Don Coons wrote a article detailing our progress to date at Blackball, along with a description of the mine and the techniques used to excavate it. Our first grotto equipment purchase was okayed, two B & B headlights for guests. Kevin gave a slide presentation on cave mapping techniques. The trip to Cave River Valley was described, which featured visits to Endless, Lamplighter (Sleazy, Greasy crawlway) and Flowstone caves. Jim also reported on the trip to Wayne's Lost. This was Ted Century's last meeting before he retired and moved to Idaho. New member, Tim Shaffer. Fittingly, the cover of the November, 1992 issue was a birthday cake with one blazing candle. Kevin announced that he would lead a vertical trip to Freeman's Pit and Shaft Cave (Indiana). (Note: Only Kevin and I went. We never did find the pit. We got separated while looking for it, and I got lost in the woods for over an hour. We did have a great time doing Shaft, though.) New member, Bruce Anderson submitted a trip report on a week at Mammoth Cave National Park with a group of 20 teenage girls from their church group. Marty and I attended our first MVOR. When the computer line plots came back from our Blackball survey, Don and I discovered that my headlight bracket had been deflecting the compass whenever I was on instrument. We had to go back and re- shoot about 40 readings. The November meeting was our first in the community room of the First of America Bank. We just got too big for home meetings. Don Coons resumes his world travels, this time to China and Mexico.
The January, 1993 NNN signaled the beginning of a new era. New member Brian Braye did the cover on his MAC, scanning in a picture he had taken of Bruce Anderson silhouetted in the entrance of Hamilton Cave, MO. The rest of the issue was done on Jim's old PC and Newsmaster program, but this was to be the last use of the old gear. Starting with the next issue, the entire NNN would be produced on the MAC. New members from November included Brian, Valerie Winston, Jason Forman, Ben Smith and David Carson. Brian has some ideas for a grotto logo, and agrees to head the committee to explore getting patches produced. We learn that the cat track that we had found in Blackball was identified by the Smithsonian as being that of a cougar! A number of members purchased copies of the plaster cast of the track. Brian Braye contributes his first trip report, of caves in Meremac State Park, MO. This issue also featured two Buckner's trip reports. The first was mine, detailing my first wild cave trip a few years ago. The second was written by Val Winston. Buckner's was also her first wild cave. Her article communicated beautifully the awe and wonder most of us felt on our first trip, the one that "hooked" us.
March, 1993, the first issue produced entirely on the MAC. Brian Braye becomes Co-editor of the NNN. The cover was a photo of me and my brother, Larry, covered with mud after exiting Buckner's the only time I've been there that the crawlway was wet. The NNN's first advertising appears. It's from Mad Dog's Cave Supply, and features a super buy on pre-moistened carbide. New members, Van Furrh, and Norm Rogers. The "frozen" trip to Wayne's Lost was described. Brian Braye's grotto logo design is voted the best. He, Bruce and Jim form a committee to check out production costs for patches or T-shirts. Norm Rogers reported on a previous trip he had taken to Wayne's, and Brian described our recent trip there, emphasizing three words; fatigue, fatigue, and fatigue. (I would have chosen br-r-r-r-r) Kevin began a series of articles on vertical caving. Alan Winston is finally shamed into going caving and writing a trip report. He liked it! A real milestone is reached when the NNG runs two trips on the same day, one having 15 participants, the other, 14.
May, 1993. A scanned photo of Micki Voorhees in Wayne's Lost. The trip to Mystery Cave was finally planned. Jim reported on the MVOR, and how unsuccessful he and Marty were in trying to "run the gauntlet" at vendor's row. Bob gets me every time. Norm Rogers, who runs the week-long NSS Field Camp at Mammoth Cave every summer, renewed his invitation to NNG'rs to take part. He also reported on a trip to Keller cave. New members; Dan Vorhees, Dean Hastings, Mary Denicus, Mike Goodwin.
The cover of the July, 1993 issue had three photos of Berome Cave, MO. The Executive Committee approved a $50.00 repayment to John Marquart for the purchase of recording thermometers for the Blackball project. Donations from members made up the difference. To this date we had made $67.28 on the sale of grotto logo T- shirts. Jim wrote two trip reports, one to Teufelshohle, a German commercial cave, the other of the long-awaited trip to Mystery Cave. John Marquart and Jim announce a trip to Buddah Cave (IN) in July. Kevin presented part two of his Vertical series. Brian reported that he and Bruce Anderson had led their church's young men's group on a caving, canoeing, rapelling and camping trip to Missouri.
The September, 1993 issue was dominated by an historic occasion, the rescue in Floyd Collins' Crystal Cave, Kentucky. This was certainly the BIG news of the year, and seldom, if ever has a cave rescue been so thoroughly documented, both in writing and by photographs. I have finally put my photo album in order. Combining my pictures with John's and Brian's, I have a complete photo record of the week in Kentucky, and of the rescue, from beginning to end. It will be on display at the upcoming meeting. The trip to Buddah was chronicled by John Marquart, complete with pictures and new member Sara Goeking reported on our trip to Monroe County, IL caves, including Lemonade Cave. New members; Sara, Eli Rodemaker, Chad Carter, Reid Siebert.
The cover of the November, 1993 issue featured two views of the large shaft which connects the two levels of the Blackball Mine. Inside, Tim Shaffer reported on his participation in a weekend restoration camp at Mammoth Cave. Our grotto meetings were moved from monday evenings to fridays, to the great relief of our out- of-town contingent, which comprises the largest portion of our membership. John Marquart, who would become the NNN's Science Editor, published a treatise on the chemistry of carbide in the NNN, which would be reprinted in many other venues, as far away as England. It garnered much praise, and provoked a lot of discussion. There was an update on the Blackball Mine project, and Dave Mahon provided a log of the Mark Twain Grotto's activities for the year.
An excellent multi-flash photo of Illinois Caverns by Brian Braye adorned the January, 1994 issue. Elected officers were: Norm Rogers, president; John Marquart, vice-president; Brian Braye, secretary; Jim Jacobs, treasurer; Don Coons, member-at- large. An article about caving on the internet by John Marquart led off the issue. Kevin Rasmus provided part three of his series on vertical caving. Jim Jacobs reported on a trip to Illinois Caverns that he led for a group of Boy Scouts and dads. Bruce Anderson described a "dads and daughters" trip, with photos by Brian Braye.
The cover of the March issue was a close-up of the glowing face of Vladimir Polevoy in Camp's Gulf Cave, taken by Eli Rodemaker. New members Julie Angel and Dave Mahon were welcomed. Julie immediately felt the excruciating pain of having her arm twisted by the editor, and provided a fine report of our trip to Hunter's Cave. Whew! It's a good thing that nobody warns new members that this is part of the initiation ceremony! Nobody would join! Don Coons was part of a group which traveled to Hawaii and rappelled into an extinct volcano, which established a new record for a United States deep pit, nearly 900 feet. Norm Rogers described a trip to Roppel Cave, KY.
On the cover of the May issue was a white crawdad that Norm photographed in Roppel Cave. John Marquart gave a talk to the Peoria Sierra Club, which was well received. Oral reports were delivered at the meeting to Mushroom Cave, Fisher Cave, Running Bull Cave, Mystery Cave, Grapevine Cave and Tom Moore cave. John Marquart speculated on the possibility of caves on other planets. Dave Mahon provided information on the Telephone Information Briefing Service, which can be accessed before entering a flood- prone cave. Jim Jacobs described the problems involved putting together a basic first aid kit to carry into a cave. Norm Rogers examines his motives for caving in his article, "Why Cave?". Mammoth Cave Park Historian, Bob Ward was shown on the July issue supervising cavers busily removing graffiti from the walls at Mammoth Cave. (Note: It was later deemed a waste of time to remove writing from the walls in the passage from the Historic Entrance to the Rotunda. Since tourists wander unsupervised through that area, blank spaces on the wall are filled in nearly as fast as you can clean them off). Dave Mahon wrote about the Mark Twain Grotto's project to survey caves and springs threatened by a planned expansion of highway 61 in northeast Missouri. Tim Shaffer described his survey trip to Linefork Cave, KY with friends from the Pine Mountain Survey. Jim Jacobs reported on a weekend which included a trip through Keller Cave, IL, and vertical practice down at Cove Hollow.
The September cover showed Jim Jacobs negotiating the "Turtle Hurdles" in the B-Crawl in the historic area of Mammoth Cave. Brian Braye reported on the NSS Restoration Camp at Mammoth Cave, noting that the Snowball Room looked really great after last year's cleaning. John Marquart authored a report on the endangered Indiana Bat, which received many reprint requests from other grottos. The U.S.A long cave list was reprinted. It was noted that Foglepole/Lemonade/Keller is #38, Illinois Caverns #97. Julie Angel detailed her first trip to Wayne's Lost. Jim Jacobs reported on this year's NSS Field Camp and Mammoth Cave, and on his 9 1/2 hr. trip through historic areas of the cave. Tim Shaffer recounted his trip through Keller Cave.
A photo of Tim Shaffer "on rope" at Cove Hollow graced the November cover. New members Brian and Mark Valentine, Rich and Chris Bell, and Pat and Kathy O'Connell were welcomed to the NNG. The membership voted to allow a grotto president to serve two consecutive terms in office rather than being limited to one. John Marquart summarized our progress at Blackball Mine. Tim Shaffer talked about looking for caves in Perry County, and also reported on the fall MVOR. Mark Valentine described our vertical training trip to Cove Hollow. Norm Rogers told the story of how he and a group of cavers found Lucy Cox's lost dam in Great Onyx Cave in 1991. Julie Angel and Tonja Horn described the "rookie trip" to Illinois Caverns.
Pat O'Connell peered through the mist of Crystal Showcase Cave, IN, on the January, 1995 cover. He also appeared within the pages, with his report of our trip to Buddha Cave and Crystal Showcase. Norm Rogers checked in with "Great Onyx Cave pt. 2". Dave Mahon tells us how to repair split boot toes with Shoe Goo, if they have been down too many crawlways, and Jim Jacobs wonders, "Why Do I Cave?"
An ecstatic Lara Storm shows how she negotiates the Buckner's Cave crawlway for March, 1995. The editor's column described how the February meeting had been enlivened by a homemade cave designed by Bruce Anderson, which ended with D.C. Young's notorious "portable" crawlway. (As in,"anything's portable if you're strong enough"). The column also included a description of the grotto trip to Buckner's Cave. New member, Tonja Fraser described the trip through Buckner's from a rookie caver's point of view. John Marquart described his meetings with Bat Conservation International, and Norm Rogers and Jim Jacobs debated the pros and cons of Beanie-Weenies in crawlways. The May issue showed Tonja crouching by a waterfall deep in Smittle Cave. Rescue reports in Trapdoor and Salamander Caves, IN were related by Anmar Mirza and Bruce Bowman. Jim Jacobs described the marvelous weekend that many of us shared with the Mark Twain Grotto at Smittle Cave.
Julie Angel and Jim Jacobs tended to an "injured" Chris House on the July cover, as part of the Nation Cave Rescue Commission training weekend at Illinois Caverns. John Marquart reported on his participation as our representative to the newly formed Illinois Speleological Survey.
On the cover of the September issue were NNG'rs Carol Rogers, Julie Angel, and Beth Reinke at the bottom of a pit in Indian Cave, KY. Norm Rogers and Jim Jacobs related the events at the NNS Field Camp and Mammoth Cave, and Jim wrote about the great weekend we had in Missouri with the Mark Twain Grotto. Caving, camping and canoeing, and a good time was had by all.
You hold the November issue in your hand. We're now four years old, going on five, and I find it hard to remember when there wasn't a Near Normal Grotto. There've been so many good times, that the previous pages just scratch the surface. We plan a grotto trip, and fifteen or twenty people join in. We've made a lot of good friends, and seen some amazing sights. Here's to more of the same. (clink!)