Long Description:?The origin of the Stellafane Observatory derives from the efforts
of one person, Russell W. Porter (1871-1949), an Arctic explorer,
artist, astronomer, architect, and engineer. Porter aroused the
initial interest in telescope making and then taught the techniques
of that subject to a group mostly of skilled craftsmen who worked
for the machine tool industry in Springfield. Subsequently, Porter
designed for the group both the clubhouse and observatory at
Stellafane. From 1920-1928 Porter provided intellectual stimulus
and practical leadership to the group until he left for California
to work on the giant Palomar telescope. Owing to his pioneering
work at Springfield, Porter is now respected internationally as the
founder of the amateur telescope-making movement.
The first meeting of the amateur telescope makers occurred in
August 1920 at the Jones & Lamston Machine Company in
Springfield. Instructed and inspired by Russell Porter, 16 people
began the highly precise and challenging task of building their own
telescopes. During succeeding months, Porter expanded the activity
of the group to astronomical observation, taking field trips to
local hilltops for all-night sessions. During the Fall of 1923 the
group undertook construction of the building on Breezy Hill, which
became its clubhouse; Porter contributed the plot of land, the
architectural design, and the cost of some building materials. In
December of the same year, the group established itself formally as
the Springfield Telescope Makers, Inc., and elected Porter
president. The basic requirement for membership consisted of making
one's own mirror suitable for mounting in a telescope. At a meeting
in January 1924 Porter suggested the name "Stellar Fane" meaning
"shrine to the stars" for the new clubhouse.
Interest in the activities of the telescope makers soon began to
spread beyond Springfield. The first articles about Stellafane
appeared in national magazines later in 1924. Then in June 1925
Albert G. Ingalls, an editor of Scientific American, visited the
site to gather information for an article that appeared in the
November 1925 issue. That article generated enthusiastic response
throughout the United States and around the world. Other articles
about Stellafane and telescope making by Ingalls and Porter
followed in the same journal and brought an ever-increasing
response. Soon John M. Pierce, the vice president of the club,
began to ship instructions and materials for making telescopes to
meet requests from all over the world.
In July 1926 the tradition of the summer convention of amateur
telescope makers at Stellafane was inaugurated with the first
gathering of 20 persons, mostly from New England and New York. The
following summer, three times that number came to the second
Stellafane convention. Meanwhile, Ingalls had edited a new book on
telescope making, including articles by Porter; the first printing
was sold out by 1928. In May of that year, Ingalls started a
regular column in Scientific American devoted to telescope
making.
The popular movement in telescopy and astronomy was expanding
rapidly from the nucleus at Springfield into an international
phenomenon.
The relationship between Porter and the Springfield Telescope
Makers changed abruptly late in 1928 when Porter moved to
California to join the work then beginning on the 200 inch Palomar
telescope, the largest in the world. Nevertheless he communicated
with, and frequently assisted, the Springfield group and returned
for annual conventions. His single greatest contribution to the
group was still to come. In the Fall of 1929 Porter presented to
the group his plans for a large telescope for the Stellafane
site... "The first reflecting turret telescope in the world." The
following summer Porter directed the construction of the
observatory which was finally completed in 1931. The resulting
Porter Turret Telescope at Stellafane and a smaller turret
telescope with refractive optics also in Springfield are, according
to Alan B. Rohwer a former president of the Springfield Telescope
Makers, "the only two turret-type telescopes known currently to
exist".
Porter attended the summer convention at Stellafane for the last
time in 1946; he died in California 3 years later. Since then, the
membership of the Springfield Telescope Makers has expanded into
other states, and the activity at Stellafane continues to flourish,
especially at the annual conventions. Nearly three thousand people
from throughout the United States, Canada, and many other countries
now gather at Stellafane every summer to share ideas, and
experiences in a strictly non-commercial milieu, to display their
increasingly sophisticated telescopes, for judging of mechanical
design and operation under the dark Vermont sky. Among amateur
telescope makers and astronomers Stellafane is now considered a
shrine to Russell W. Porter and the founding of their movement: a
trip to Stellafane is considered a pilgrimage.
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