In 1977, I had the opportunity to travel to Raymond, IA with a friend and his family for a day of collecting specimens at the famous Pint's Quarry.

Back then we were allowed into the quarry while they were still working. We did have to have hard hats, and eye protection, but were allowed to dig as long as we stayed away from the workers and the machines.

Just happened to be passing near Raymond, IA 31 years later, and decided to see if I could find the quarry again. I was pretty sure of where it was but that was a long time ago. Talked to a few people who had no idea what I was talking about. Finally noticed another quarry near by, they told me to go back down that road a ways, and just walk on in. The sign said don't do that, but . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . we did anyway, expecting to see the big quarry again.

Surprise . . . . . . . it has been flooded. Looks like about 100' is under water. Same wall as the old photo above. Pretty blue-green water now covers all of those beautiful calcite specimens.