Tinsel from above?

Recently I read a story in a book called Weird Georgia about a strange substance that fell from the sky in the 50’s.  The tale caught my eye because my home town was mentioned.  There were reports of a strange, silver, tinsel like substance that drifted from the sky all over the state.

What was it?  Well, that's the thing, no one knows.  Some said it was webs from ballooning spiders, some said chemicals used to seed clouds, some had no explanation at all.  If something like that happened now they would probably be able to analyze it and get answers.  What was it? Why then?  Why Georgia? Why not again? 

Are there samples somewhere sitting in a lab?  Will this substance pop up on Ebay one day?  If it does I will certainly be sure to get my bid in.