Clarke Observatory

The Clarke Observatory is located on the Mount Union College campus in Alliance, Ohio.^[1]

History[edit]

Originally built for private use, the observatory was sold to Elmer Harrold, another private owner, who donated to Mount Union College upon the graduation of his daughter from the college.^[2] A new observatory was built on campus to house the observatory in 1923 and outfitted with the telescope from the first Clarke Observatory. The second observatory was demolished in 1969 and the telescope moved to East Hall at Mount Union College.

Observatories[edit]

First Observatory

Location: Dunkirk, New York
Construction Began: 1897
Benefactor: Charles Ezra Hequembourg
Telescope Mounted: 1897, German equatorial
First Telescope: George N. Saegmuller 9-inch refractor, 117-inch focal length
First Light: 1897^{[citation needed]}
Dome Material: bronze
Directors:
- Charles Ezra Hequembourg, private owner (1897-1907)
- Mrs. Hequembourg, private owner (1907-1914)

Second Observatory

Location: Alliance, Ohio
Construction Began: 1923
Benefactor: Elmer Harrold
First Telescope: George N. Saegmuller 9-inch refractor, 117-inch focal length, moved from New York
Directors:
- Elmer Harrold, private owner (1917-1919), donated to Mount Union College

Third Observatory

Location: Alliance, Ohio
Construction Began: 1969
Refinished: 1952, by the Alliance Tool Company
Telescope Mounted: 1969
First Telescope: 9-inch Saegmuller, refurbished with 8.5-inch lens with 135-inch focal length by J. W. Fecker Company of Pittsburgh.
Directors:
- James P. Rodman