A Written History

In 1985, Hiram student Tim Walker completed a paper entitled, “A History of the Stephens Observatory and Telescope.” The paper, written for class credit, stands today as the history of Hiram’s observatory and telescope. Fittingly, Mr. Walker received an “A” for his work. You can read the paper here; you will need Adobe Reader or other appropriate software in order to open the PDF.

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Under Construction

Workers pose for a photograph at the base of the rooftop observatory on the Teachout Library building about 1900. The lower edge of the rotating observatory dome can be seen at the top of this picture (click to see an enlarged image).

Photo courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Teachout Library and Observatory – around 1900

This is a view looking south, across Hinsdale Street, at the northern elevation of the building. The photographic print was discovered at a February 2009 North Canton auction by Cary Bacher of Richfield, Ohio who provided us with a scan of the image.

Photo courtesy Cary Bacher.

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Teachout Library and Observatory − 1900

A new library building was completed in 1900 at Hiram College and included observatory facilities. Donor Abram Teachout paid the full cost of construction: $10,000. A dome sat atop a tower above the treetops. The low, flat-roofed structure at the left side of the library is a transit observatory. The facility was beautiful but its location, atop the building’s boiler room, was not good. Soot and heated air dirtied the telescope’s lens and roiled the air. This view is from the southwest looking northeast.

Photo courtesy Hiram College archives.

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 Teachout Library and Observatory − 1900

This view of the original Teachout Library and Observatory is from the northeast looking southwest. A portion of the original foundation was incorporated into a newer building on campus, including the distinctive curved base of the observatory tower. This site is the highest elevation on campus and in Hiram.

Photo courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Lathrop Cooley (Oct. 25, 1821 – Jan. 2, 1910)

Upon the occasion of his 80th birthday, Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) minister Lathrop Cooley purchased a high-quality telescope for the new library building. Built by Warner and Swasey, Cleveland, the telescope cost $4,000. During dedication ceremonies, Cooley remarked, “This instrument is erected here so that you may climb the steep of heaven and walk among the stars.” Cooley, an active minister in Disciples of Christ churches, was also a successful businessman. Interested in business, he made sound real-estate investments, was a director of the Citizens Savings & Trust Co., and was involved in other Cleveland businesses. His interest in education led to a 30-year tenure as benefactor and trustee of Hiram College. He was buried in Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland.

For more on Rev. Cooley: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/125610205/lathrop-cooley

Photo courtesy Hiram College archives.
Original image by Watkins of Medina, Ohio; undated.

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A Grand New Telescope

Colman Bancroft, professor of mathematics, at the eyepiece of the Cooley Telescope, at the Teachout Library and Observatory about 1901.

Photo courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Fire at the Library

Spectators watch in the cold February 1939 air as firefighters work on the roof of the burning Teachout Observatory and Library. The library was seriously damaged in the incident. Fortunately most of the library’s collection and the observatory were saved. The outlines of the lower portion of the observatory tower can still be seen on the north side of , now, the Teachout-Price Building.

Image courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Dome and Telescope Removed

In February 1939 a fire seriously damaged the Teachout Library. Fortunately for astronomy, the Cooley Telescope was isolated enough from the main building that it escaped serious damage. The wood-framed, metal-skinned dome was removed and kept for reuse; the telescope shipped off to Warner and Swasey, Cleveland, for cleaning and checking.

Photo courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Donor Makes new Observatory Possible

On April 9,1939 came the announcement that Ella M. Stephens would donate funds for the construction of a new observatory facility to house the Cooley Telescope and support astronomy at Hiram College. The observatory was to be named in memory of Miss Stephens’ family. The architect’s initial rendering differs in several details from the building as it was finally realized.

Image courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Stephens Memorial Observatory

Not built precisely to the architect’s rendering — this possibly more economical — this undated photograph of the Stephens Memorial Observatory shows its completed form. Note the entryway stoop, and notice particularly the landscaping and grounds open to the southeastern sky; in more recent times use of the observatory has been limited by tall trees to the southeast and a line of trees along the western property line. Efflorescence from the masonry work at the top of the building tells us the building has been in the weather for some time; the white mineral deposits can take place for about two to three years after construction. This building was completed in 1939 so perhaps the photo was captured around 1942.

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Telescope Back in Operation

Prof. Elbert Howard Clarke using the telescope in the newly-built Stephens Memorial Observatory. Prof. Clarke, a mathematics instructor (from 1917 – 1957), is seen looking through the finder telescope attached to the much larger Cooley Telescope in the observatory. Note how the brass finder has been polished to a lustrous finish. Brass fittings on the Cooley are also clean and bright, probably the result of their trip back to the Warner and Swasey telescope works in Cleveland following the library fire. This photo was taken from the 1941 edition of the Spider Web Hiram College yearbook.

Image courtesy Hiram College archives.

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Observatory visitors in the ’60s

The group pictured is the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society on a field trip. The shot was very likely taken in 1965 or 1966. The club was started in 1963 by Tony Mallama (upper left) and another youth. At this point in its history the telescope’s pier was apparently painted black and the telescope’s optical tube was another dark shade. note the coffee can in the upper right background, apparently serving as a homemade light. A bare light bulb in the clock chamber within the telescope pier was used to keep the mechanism warm and dry. This is a scan from a small Polaroid photographic print.

Image courtesy Tony Mallama