Detroit Observatory: Chronology

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Detroit Observatory Chronology: 1896-1916

1852-1855 | 1856-1873 | 1874-1894 | 1896-1916 | 1917-1960s | 1961-present

1896	Harrington serves as President of the University of Washington Hall gets approval to add bathroom to the Observatory
1898	Harrington returns to the U.S. Weather Bureau as Director at San Jan, Puerto Rico, returning to New York after 6 months Harrington retires due to failing physical and mental health
1900	Jasper F. Cropsey dies
1902	Alvan Clark & Sons add a spring to the meridian circle lens cell Sextant purchased for $150
1903	Astronomer Cleveland Abbe, Class of 1860, writes in support of moving the Observatory to a better location Surveyor's transit purchased for $375
1904	Hall publishes Determination of the Abberration Constant
1905	Hall resigns to return to the U.S. Naval Observatory William J. Hussey appointed as Director Director's residence expanded and improved Observatory Shop established Weather observations sent to the U.S. Weather Bureau Hussey travels to Egypt to observe solar eclipse
1906	Observatory Shop staff hired
January	Bathroom added to original observatory
August	37 1/2-inch mirror ordered from Brashear for a new reflecting telescope; delivered in December
1907	Fitz refractor converted: steel tube replaces wooden tube, driving clock added, 3 1/2-inch finder, etc. New Warner & Swasey micrometer obtained for the Fitz refractor New observer's chair obtained--lighter and more convenient Drainage improvements made to the Observatory Observatory becomes a station of the U.S. Weather Bureau Courses added in modern astronomy and astrophysics, history of astronomy, and variable stars Rudolph Brünnow's wife dies; he moves to Princeton, NJ
1908	Students' Observatory moved 300 feet west West wing of basement in original building is expanded 1908 addition is constructed, attached to the original building at the east New comet seeker telescope constructed by Henry Colliau in the Observatory Shop, with Brashear 4 1/2-inch lens; mounted on top of Director's residence Catwalk added from original building to roof of residence; another to the 1908 addition Original comet seeker used as a finder on the 37 1/2-inch reflecting telescope Students' refractor receives a new dirving clock, worm and worm wheel, and electric slow motion Camera provided for the students' refractor Encroachment on the Observatory site was stopped after bulldozers began grading the land to the west as a women's athletic field Robert Lamont donates funds for refracting telescope to be used at the Lamont-Hussey Observatory in Bloemfontain, South Africa Harrington, missing for years, discovered homeless in Newark and is placed in a sanitarium
1909	Seismmographs added to the clock room in the 1908 addition Single-prism spectrograph by Brashear obtained for the 37 1/2-inch reflecting telescope
1910	40-foot dome for the 1908 addition is constructed and installed by the Russell Wheel and Foundry Co., Detroit
1911	37 1/2-inch reflecting telescope for spectrographic work is completed Hussey appointed Director at LaPlata Observatory in Argentina, in addition to directorship at Michigan Ralph H. Curtiss appointed Assistant Director Observatory grounds expanded to the east by gift of 26 acres form R.P. Lamont, Civil Engineering Class of 1891 Howard clock No. 413 moved to the 1908 addition 37 1/2-inch reflecting telescope completed
1912	Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan series is launched; Vol. I, Part I, is published Plan developed to drain the Cat-Hole and build a University Power Plant; site called Huddy Hill considered for the Observatory
1914	Dedication of the Tappan Memorial; Rudolph and Eric Brünnow attend
1915	Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan Vol. I, Part II, is published Huddy Hill is considered again as a possible relocation sight for the Observatory
1916	Publications of the Observatory of the University of Michigan Vol. II, is published Eric Brünnow dies of infantile paralysis

The chronology is excerpted with the author's persmission from A Creation of His Own: Tappan's Detroit Observatory, by Patricia S. Whitesell, ©1998.