The Stellafane History Page
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Note: The Stellafane web pages are always under construction! Several articles are in place but there's always more to come. The photos on this page have been replaced with old photos from the Stellafane archives.
STELLAFANE VIRTUAL MUSEUM
Click here Click here to go to the Stellafane Virtual Museum.
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MISSING RUSSELL PORTER WATERCOLOR
(Reposted August 28, 2002)
Do you recognize this watercolor painting by Russell Porter of his invention, The Garden Telescope? Some time after 1970 the painting was taken from Stellafane and has not been seen since. This was before the museum at the Hartness House was opened in 1975, the date when we finally had a safe place to store and display our treasures. It is the only Porter watercolor of the Garden Telescope known to exist. By now it may have passed on to someone not aware of its origins. If you have seen this painting perhaps an explanation to the owner that the Springfield Telescope Makers would greatly appreciate having it returned would be just the stimulus needed. That way it can be displayed in the ATM museum for all convention goers to enjoy.
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It can be shipped anonymously to: |
Click on Image (28k File) |
Choose an article.
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| Porter's Drawings of Palomar |
Porter Turret Telescope |
"The Telescope Makers of Springfield, VT" by Russell Porter |
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| A Visit to Caroline Porter Kier by Bert Willard |
Memoirs from 1930 by Leo Scanlon |
A Brief History of Stellafane |
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| The 1926 Convention by Bert Willard |
Read a short article about the Stellafane "Little Man" symbol.
Hand Tinted Photo of 2 Hill Place, Springfield, Vermont. This was the home of Russell W.Porter between 1919, when he was hired by James Hartness to develop the optical comparator into a marketable product, and 1929, when he was hired by George Hale to work on the 200-inch telescope project.
(Sorry, photo 'porter_house.jpg' currently missing from web site, 2006-Feb-20. I'll restore it when I find it...Webmaster)
The R. W. Porter Museum of Amateur Telescope Making
The R. W. Porter Museum of Amateur Telescope Making is dedicated to the collection, preservation and showing of items relevant to the amateur telescope making movement. It is located at the Hartness House, an Inn and former home of Governor James Hartness, in Springfield, Vermont, and was first opened in 1975. The accompanying photographs (below) show some of the items on display. Since Porter was the founder of the Springfield Telescope Makers and is considered to be the father of the amateur movement he is heavily represented through his original art works, a Garden Telescope and telescope making artifacts.
The musuem has numerous other contributors as well: several telescopes made by early and current STM members, a Hartness sundial, items from and mirror made by Scotty Houston, the original 1924 article in Scientific American which got the ATM ball rolling, 1st edition of ATM-1, mirror making kits and parts sold by John M. Pierce, Alvan Clark mirror testing stool, just to name a few.
The Springfield Telescope Makers are interested in considering items deemed significant to the understanding of the history of the amateur telescope making movement. These would include: early Maksutov telescopes, Schmidt cameras, tilted component and catadioptric telescopes, other unusual telescopes, innovative telescope components, testing equipment, and accessories. Please contact Bert Willard if you have something which you would be interested in donating to the museum. Many thanks in advance for your help.
Bert Willard, Springfield Telescope Makers historian and museum curator.
Bert Willard
34 Bellows Hill Rd.
Carlisle, MA 01741
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| Garden 'Scope | Water Color | Wooden 'Scope | Pencil Sketch |
Click here to see more images from the museum.
Check out some Arctic Sketches of Russell Porter at the National Archives by Mary C. Ryan.