History of Goldendale Observatory

By Don Hardin

Observatory Volunteer

The Goldendale Observatory had its beginnings not in Goldendale, but in Vancouver, Washington at Clark College. Four members of an amateur astronomy club began working together on a very ambitious project, the building of a 12-inch telescope on Larch Mountain for the college's astronomy department. Only one of the four had a college degree. Don Conner, the most involved of all, was a high school dropout, and apparently somewhat of a problem child. If this inauspicious beginning was not enough, Don, a retired auto parts worker, had multiple sclerosis severe enough to require his use of a wheel chair for most of the project's existence. Don had a driving interest in astronomy and making telescopes. He started out during the depression grinding mirrors from glass furniture coasters and emery dust discarded as waste from the Fuller Glass Company. He studied all the material on astronomy he could obtain. As Don became increasingly skilled he enjoyed passing on his skills to young people interested in astronomy and telescope making.

 Working closely with Don on the grinding, polishing, and constant testing of the observatory's twenty-four and one-half inch, 200-pound Pyrex mirror was Don's long term astronomy club buddy, Mack McConnell. Mack was a glass engraver until an allergy forced him to take a job with the Vancouver Water Department. Another member of the foursome, Omer VanVelden, usually called "Van", was an employee of Weber Machine Company. Van worked nights and weekends manufacturing all the intricate gears, shafts, and fittings needed for the new large telescope.

 Less involved in mirror grinding, John Marshall's role was nonetheless crucial. Marshall, a former electrician, did the work on the wiring, switches, motors, and other electrical components. One day John told Don Conner, "I think I can talk the college into financing a large mirror blank. What do you say to a twenty-four and one-half inch?" Perhaps that was the moment the telescope at Goldendale was born. Fitting action to words, John had the 200-pound, five-inch thick Pyrex disk on order before the other three members of the group hardly knew what happened.

 From the beginning, it was realized that Vancouver area was not appropriate area for location of the new telescope, because of city lights and a high proportion of cloudy nights. The telescope makers turned eyes eastward, to Goldendale. Again it was John Marshall who made the initial contact. John rode into town with his wife and Don Conner. The trio stopped at a cafe for lunch. Striking up a conversation with owner John Toll, Marshall was soon put in touch with Mayor George Nesbitt. A follow-up meeting was arranged and on May 28, 1964, Marshall, McConnell, and VanVelden met with Mayor Nesbitt, Toll, Pete May (editor of the Goldendale Sentinel) and others. The astronomy group proposed a full science center in Goldendale for the entire region. The proposal included a new astronomy lab, housing the telescope and other instruments, a library, and what ever else was needed. The center's purpose would be to teach astronomy to the public, especially to young people. Research was not to be its focus. "We will provide the telescope" the astronomers told the Goldendale representatives, "if Goldendale will provide the site and observatory."

 The people of Goldendale were cautious, wondering how much the venture was going to cost them. Meanwhile, back in Vancouver, the foursome rolled up their sleeves and went to work. The first requirement was for space large enough to permit grinding the large disk while providing the essential even temperature. Permission was obtained from Clark College to use space in a boiler room of the college's Applied Arts Building. For six long years, Conner and McConnell carefully and tediously ground, tested, and polished on the large Pyrex disk. Over five pounds of material would be carefully removed from its surface in the process. Don developed equipment for grinding and testing the surface to a precision of within one millionth of an inch. Meanwhile, begged and scrounged parts were gradually assembled. The college machine shop fabricated the main pedestal as a class project. Frequently, one of the foursome would make a trip to Goldendale, asking quietly about progress, prodding a little here, giving a little encouragement there. In 1971 the telescope, valued at $75,000, was finished at actual construction cost of only $3,000!

 As the telescope neared it's completion in Vancouver, the non-profit Goldendale Observatory Corporation was formed April 13, 1971, to solicit funds and build the observatory. A prospective site for the observatory had been chosen in 1968, on a hill north of and on property owned by the city. Twenty acres of land were leased from the city for the observatory. Tom Hargiss, a Yakima architect, was hired and construction bids were sought. A contract was awarded to Cree Construction Company of Everett, for $138,000.

 With the telescope ready and the people of Goldendale's commitment sealed in the formation of the Goldendale Observatory Corporation, the pace of creating the observatory picked up rapidly. Arms were twisted and funds trickled in. A significant step forward was achieved in the form of a $156,000 federal grant from the Mid-Columbia Development District. To achieve additional needed funds, a bank loan was negotiated with Klickitat Valley Bank, with several board members signing personal notes to secure the loan. Finally, everything was ready and on May 10, 1973, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. By the end of May, construction was begun in earnest.

 It took six long years to build the telescope, from 1964 through 1970 (some sources place completion in 1971). It took another three years to raise the funds for the buildings. Construction took only 4 months! By October the new observatory was ready for dedication, and an October date was set. Meanwhile, back in Vancouver, the big mirror was dispatched for replating. October rolled around and the mirror was not back. A frantic phone call from Bud Hakanson, President of Clark College, to the platers got the mirror back to the college on October 9, when it was whisked to the observatory by private car.

October 13, 1973 dawned on cloudy skies as 350 to 400 people converged on the observatory hill. Then, as the band struck up, and colorful flags ascended the pole, the sun broke through to provide the ultimate astronomical blessing to the dedication of the new observatory. Congressman Mike McCormick, in a keynote address, dedicated Goldendale Observatory "to the telescope builders, the people who worked to make the observatory a reality, to the scientists who came before it, and those who will 'seek the truth' as a result of it."

 Then came a precious moment. The distinguished crowd, including observatory directors and members, mayors, city and county counselors, college presidents, professional and amateur astronomers from all over the northwest, and other guests, rose in a standing ovation, as Don Conner struggled from his wheel chair. With Don's hands trembling more than usual, with Mac, John, and Van at his side, Don was helped to the eyepiece of the telescope for his first look into space from the new Goldendale Observatory.

The dedication was over, and as every parent knows, the fight was one for the continuing and stable existence of the observatory. Every available dime had been poured into the observatory's construction. No funds were left for its maintenance, for staff, for improvements, or for programming. Chief use was by the astronomy club, one night every other week - hardly appropriate level of use for a $261,000 facility!

 For the next year, the fledgling observatory struggled on top of its mountain perch, just as hard as any high alpine plant. The observatory was entirely dependent on membership dues, user fees, and donations. These were hardly sufficient to meet maintenance needs, much less to meet mortgage payments, pay staff, or make needed improvements. In 1976, the City of Goldendale again came to the rescue by agreeing to fund $8,000 of an annual budget of $12,000. The Goldendale Observatory Corporation was to be responsible for raising the other third. A director was hired to develop the observatory to it's full potential as a regional science center. Apparently, however, in 1978 the observatory remained so badly in arrears that the Klickitat Valley Bank was reluctantly forced to write the co-signers of the initial loan, threatening foreclosure. This time rescue came not from earthly sources, but from an event from the sky that was to turn Goldendale into a boomtown for one brief history-making day.

On February 26, 1979, the sun was scheduled for it's last total eclipse visible from the North American continent in the twentieth century. The path of total eclipse, lasting only two minutes and twenty seconds, would be over northern Oregon, eastward through Idaho and Montana, and upward into Canada. The Goldendale location had a corner on event viewing for several reasons. First, it was the closest place on the eclipse path to the population centers of Portland and Seattle that offered a better than 50% chance of weather consistent with viewing the eclipse at all. Second, it was the only city in the eclipse path that had a large telescope and observatory. It was unthinkable that the Goldendale Observatory could be closed prior to this event, which was to draw 17,000 people to the Goldendale area, from around the globe. Indeed, every motel room in town was sold out months in advance. Even space on observatory hill was available only by advance ticket. Admission to the observatory itself had to be restricted to members only. Since thousands of people could hardly see an eclipse lasting only two minutes and twenty seconds through one telescope, the Goldendale telescope was turned over to NBC TV. NBC cameras made it possible for the entire world to see the event on a live telecast.

 The morning of the eclipse came complete with clouds. Disappointment settled heavily over the waiting crowds. Then, mere moments before the eclipse was to begin, the clouds parted to allow a hushed world to watch the sun darken into a magnificent eclipse.

 The crowds departed for home, creating a seventeen-mile long traffic jam, all the way from Goldendale to Biggs Junction, on the Columbia River. The city, faced with the need for tough budget cutting, proposed permanent closure of the observatory. For undisclosed individuals, closing the Observatory was just not to be allowed. These determined people began knocking on doors. Eventually, their search for funding led them to Washington State Parks. After negotiations, State Parks agreed to buy the observatory in 1980, for the amount of $100,000.

 Since beginning services in 1981, Washington State Parks has given thousands of people each year a look at the stars through one of the largest public telescopes in the world. Through its programs, each of us can learn more about, better understand, and more fully appreciate our planet and universe.

Goldendale Observatory exists because of the past miracle of men and women who chose to commit their dreams, their ingenuousness, their sweat, and their hard-earned capital to its creation.

Goldendale Observatory exists to give all of us a chance to see and reach out to the stars, to reach outwards the infinity of our awe-inspiring universe.

Goldendale Observatory exists to give each of us opportunity to contribute to its future. Will that future include better models, improved presentation space, space for astronomical exhibits, a gift shop, and other improvements? Only if you help with your support and your donations. The choice is yours.