History of Naylor Astronomical Center:

When the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg was formed in 1955, its membership formulated a planned expansion which would include a private observing site and a telescope. The first order of business was to construct a telescope which would be mounted within an observatory. The membership contributed the necessary money to acquire all the materials to build the telescope. All work was donated and performed by the members.

The result was a 12.5" Cassegrain telescope requiring permanent mounting and an observatory. While construction of the telescope was in its later stages, exploration for a site was started. Attempts to have property donated were met with little success. Generally, such property was useless as a site for an observatory for one reason or another.

ASH's First Telescope a 12.5" Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain built by the members, ASH still has this scope in storage.

At one point a suitable plot of land was found and acquisition initiated. Since the Society did not have the necessary $1,000.00, several members lent the money to the Society with the understanding the loans would be repaid as money became available. Having put a deposit on the property and signed an intent to purchase, the membership was amazed to find that the same property owner was selling the adjacent land for nightclub development. Resulting litigation restored most of the money and dampened the spirit of the Society.

Treating this experience as a valuable lesson, the Society embarked on a fully developed scheme to acquire a suitable site and construct the desired facilities. In this approach included were the means for financing. Schedules were developed in a complimentary and supplementary manner to assure that each stage would be ready for the scheduled progress. To meet the schedule and to maintain the progress and to ensure the satisfactory completion of each stage, members, on occasions, lent funds for specific purchases and pledged moneys to secure loans. On many occasions throughout the years of development the loans eventually became gifts.

The various committees involved included a Telescope committee, a Planning committee, a Site Acquisition committee, a Financial committee, and a Special committee whose many duties included the acquisition of "tax-free" status from local government and establishment of official registration as a "scientific and educational" body which would permit gifts and donations to the Society to be recognized as tax exempt by the IRS.

While the overall program was considered extensive by many of the members, it was apparent that such a program was necessary for an orderly and economic development. Generally, once matters were decided and approved by the Society, the membership offered complete support. During this period of initial development, the membership never had more that 60 people. Practically everyone in the Society was involved at some time or other, depending a lot on the individual’s field of expertise, in an official capacity with the project. Naturally, this did not come about overnight.

The present property was acquired in 1966 and the concrete viewing pads were constructed. With the help of a rented "job-johnny," temporary power feed, and a small shed for warm-ups on cold nights, observing with members’ portable telescopes was performed.

During this period funds were being solicited. However, it soon became apparent that our fund raising was being hampered by a lack of established history. It was a bitter disappointment to discover that we needed a sound historical background to substantiate our lofty intentions if we were to secure the support of foundations and businesses to any appreciable extent. Nevertheless, the membership was not to be denied and by donations, pledges and borrowing the pace of the program was maintained all through the years from 1966 to 1971.

During this time the domed observatory, the operations building, additional viewing pads and the telescope storage building were constructed. Having been intensely involved in this program, I know of no time when the treasury had more than $600.00. One of the conditions for the acceptance and support of the program by the members was that member activities would not be over shadowed by the development. Accordingly dues were used to maintain the general Society activities before they could be utilized for any development of facilities. This strained the money-making policies to a great extent. To accommodate the many shortfalls which always occurred at the point of least financial soundness, raffles were conducted and a table at a flea-market secured. Occasionally, the executive board had to reach into their own pockets to provide the money to pay the monthly bills.

The Dome is Installed by ASH Dome at our Lewisberry Observatory.

While many of us who were involved at this time can see a lot of humor in all that transpired, we also view this period with considerable pride. It was a period of considerable growth for the Society as well as intensive activity at the observatory. Not only were we involved with activity on the site and established observing sessions, we also treated the public to our knowledge and capabilities both on and off the site. Groups of 50 to 100 people visiting the site were not uncommon. Our speakers bureau was established to handle the many requests from service organizations for speakers at luncheons and dinners as well as at special meetings. The Society was heavily involved with the Astronomical League activities as well as with observing programs initiated by NASA.

Later on in the decade, 1977 to 1979, plans were revised after a few years of rest and a second observatory was proposed, now the the Culver Roll-Off Building. The building featured the addition of a 12.5" Cave Newtonian Telescope donated to the society. While we now had a viable history for the Society, it was decided to perform the new work on a most economical level and avoid going after "big" money which would be more beneficial whenmore extensive expansion was required. Again, this was accomplished by the membership in the same way as before–donations, loans and pledges, with material and labor donated by the members wherever possible. In addition to the major construction and telescope programs, the Society has continually maintained a satisfactory inventory of equipment as well as facility for the membership.

Following the addition of the Culver Roll-Off building a 6" Heliostat telescope was constructed and added to the Asper Administation Building. This telescope projects a visible-light image of the sun onto a screen in the building. This telescope is dedicated to the late Jack Betz, who served the society with great dedication for a large period of his life.

Throughout the history of the Naylor Observatory, several telescopes have adorned the domed French Building. Including the first telescope, the 12.5" Dall-Kirkham Cassegrain (which is still in storage), a 16" Cave Newtonian Telescope, and the current telescope in the building, a 17" Classical Cassegrain.

The 16" Cave Telescope adorning the dome, after being put together by these ASH Members.

The telescope storage shed, which years ago was named the Brooks Building, featured a large newtonian telescope which was placed on permanent lease to the society. The telescope was later transferred, with the society's blessing, to the York County Parks Astronomical Society to help them get off the ground. Following the relocation of the Brooks telescope, a 10.5" Cave Newtonian telescope was added to this building.

The Year 2000 has come and gone and the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, PA, Inc. continues to grow. Over the summer of 2001, the society embarked on the biggest effort to date since the 1970's to improve its observatory. An Eagle Scout Project was completed and many improvements were made to the observatory, including the addition of a light blocking fence, the planting of many arbor vitae trees around the observatory to block light, as well as various other repairs/improvements to the observatory. The spring of 2003 also brought change to the Society's Administration Building. Old shelving was replaced and new storage methods were added to the building. If the future continues to stay bright, this building will see expansion in the not too distant future.

During the 2002-2003 year member participation was at one of its highest levels ever. The society embarked on a Capital Campaign in 2003 with 2 phases and within 2 months raised enough money to fulfill Phase I of the Capital Campaign, building the proposed CCD Observatory. The addition of this observatory to our Astronomical Center will happen in the summer of 2003, marking the first time since the 1970's that the Naylor Astronomical Center has been expanded. The Capital Campaign for 2003 continues, with efforts in Phase II to raise funds to double the size of the Society's Asper Administration Building, and remount the society's 12.5" Cave Newtonian telescope located in the Culver Roll-Off Building. The legacy of ASH continues to go on, the society has been through much, but the perseverence and capability of its membership continues to build on the society's rich legacy.

These comments are offered so that our current membership, which has increased well over 100% since any major expansion was completed, can be aware that with enough determination, good planning, lots of patience and a little money, the Society can accomplish its goals and continue to grow. I do not know the current worth of the astronomical center. I do know that in the mid-1970’s the facility was evaluated at some $30,000.00. At this point, we have received approximately $12,000.00 in donations from outside the membership. I doubt if this figure has changed since then, but the amount contributed by the membership has certainly increased. Assuming that the value of our real property has more than doubled since the mid-1970’s, I firmly believe that we have a historical foundation of dedication and service which cannot be ignored by either our members or the public.

A look up ASH's driveway after the construction of the dome, compared to now.