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Updated January 13, 2002
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By the end of 1978, we purchased a 16 inch telescope
from Art Stokes, an amateur astronomer from Hudson, Ohio. It
was put into storage as we were busy preparing the observatory
site. Since the telescope is huge, it requires a large mount
to hold its weight. We decided to pour a concrete pier to hold
the massive weight. This would require digging a hole at least
3-4 feet deep and 3-4 feet wide.
Being a bit too eager to get this project going,
we started digging a hole in 1979, but abandoned that effort
after realizing that we first had to level the hill with a bulldozer
before any major construction work could begin.
Mike Sills
and Bob Petti digging the first
pier.
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Bob
Petti and Dan
Rehner cover the first pier to keep the rain out,
while Dan Rothstein supervises.
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So,
after leveling the hilltop and burying the first pier, we decided
to use posts as support for the building walls. Dan Rothstein uses a post-hole
digger to dig one of the supporting posts. This contraption
was also used to dig the new pier.
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We then got smart and rented a gas-powered
post-hole digger. However, the spark plug was bad, so
we lost 2 hours running to the store to buy a replacement.
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Several
CVAS members prepare a form that will be used to shape the
concrete pier that will be poured in the following weeks.
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Cover that
hole again to keep the rain out.
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We estimate there is over 6,000 pounds
of rock, sand and concrete that went into construction
of the pier. The concrete was mixed and poured by hand.
Doug Caprette
dumps a load of concrete into the form.
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Dan
Rothstein adjusts a reinforcing bar before
another load of concrete is dumped in. In the background,
Doug Caprette
mixes the concrete by hand.
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After pouring the bottom portion, the
form is then constructed around the top of the pier. This
will prepare it for the next level of concrete that will
form the 41 degree angle it must have to conform to our
latitude.
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The
completed pier inspected by Norm Oberle
(left) and Roy Anderson (right) during a local
astronomy convention. Norm was a well-known amateur astronomer
and telescope builder in the area.
Both Norm and Roy were longtime members of the
Cuyahoga Astronomical Association. Norm was honored for
his outstanding contribution to
amateur astronomy at the October 1996 Hidden Hollow astronomy
convention.
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After finishing the pier, we dropped
the post-hole idea and decided to construct a full foundation
for our building.
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