More than 60 years ago, an 11-year-old boy on a road trip with his mother and friends made a discovery that would become part of Dayton’s scientific history.
While traveling along Route 42 near Waynesville in the late 1950s to look at fossils (where road construction had exposed layers of rock), Howard “Terry” Guy Payne noticed unusual patterns in the stone. Already involved with what was then the Dayton Museum of Natural History (today’s Boonshoft Museum of Discovery), he shared his observation with museum director E.J. Koestner, who had been searching for evidence of Ohio’s Ice Age past.
The markings were later identified as glacial striations or grooves carved into rock by massive glaciers thousands of years ago. The striations offered clear evidence that ice once covered the region.
What followed was a multi-day excavation led by museum staff and volunteers, who carefully recovered and transported the specimen to the museum, where it remained on display for decades.
Payne’s early connection to the museum helped spark a lifelong passion for science and discovery. As a participant in the Junior Naturalist program and later a Junior Curator, he taught rock classes for other children, helped care for injured wildlife, and even earned first place at the Museum Fair for his exhibit, Jewels in the Mineral World.
Reflecting on this longstanding connection to the institution, Payne shared, “I am honored to have the glacially grooved specimen on display once again. I’m very grateful for my early introductions to the museum which opened the door for experiences throughout my life.”
As an adult, Terry went on to pursue a career in the arts, specifically metalsmithing and printmaking. His love for natural history has stayed with him throughout his life, and he is especially interested in wildlife and geology. And of course, he actively keeps an eye out for more glacial striations in the area!
Now in his 70s, Payne recently returned to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery to see the same specimen he identified as a child. It is now featured in the newly opened Entering the Ice Age exhibition. The immersive exhibit includes life-sized mastodon reconstructions, Ice Age specimens, interactive displays, and original artwork that bring Ohio’s ancient past to life.
Tracey Tomme, Boonshoft Museum President & CEO added, “This is a powerful reminder of how curiosity at a young age can lead to something lasting. Terry’s story shows how one moment of discovery can come full circle and inspire others decades later.”
About the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Located in Dayton, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery continues its mission of connecting the community to science, nature, and discovery across generations.
For more information, visit:
https://boonshoft.org