Annual Meeting
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 7:00 pm
APRIL MEETING
In-person and via Zoom
In-person and via Zoom
Annual Meeting & Speaker
Saturday, April 13, 2024
at SEAGRAVE MEMORIAL OBSERVATORY
47 Peeptoad Road, North Scituate, RI 02857
6 PM: Socializing
7 PM: Business Meeting & Presentation
After four months away, we return to Seagrave for our Annual Meeting and Election of Officers, followed by a presentation by member David Huestis.
Facilities will open at 6 PM for socializing before the meeting. At 7 PM, we will begin our business meeting, followed by our speaker.
Facilities will open at 6 PM for socializing before the meeting. At 7 PM, we will begin our business meeting, followed by our speaker.
BUSINESS
Reports
Election of Officers
For the Good of the Organization
TOPIC: Seagrave Memorial Observatory: A Highlight of 164 Years Of History (in, hopefully, under an hour!)
SPEAKER: David Huestis, Historian, Skyscrapers, Inc.
SPEAKER: David Huestis, Historian, Skyscrapers, Inc.
Frank Evans Seagrave (1860 - 1934) was a well-known Rhode Island astronomer who received an 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope in 1878 for his 16th birthday present (1876). An observatory was built at his family residence at 119 Benefit St in Providence to house that instrument. Eventually light pollution from gas lamps hindered his observations, so he searched for a new location to move his telescope
He found a piece of property on Peep Toad Road in North Scituate, RI, where in 1914 he built a new observatory and moved the Clark telescope there.
Skyscrapers was founded in 1932 by Professor Charles Smiley of Brown University.
Frank Seagrave passed away in 1934, and his estate was bequeathed to his cousin, Walter Angell. The observatory sat idle for a time. When Angell passed soon thereafter, it was offered for sale.
In 1936 Skyscrapers incorporated and purchased the property. The organization has maintained and operated it ever since.
Dave will explore some of Frank Seagrave's achievements and highlight some of Skyscrapers' rich history.
Dave Huestis’ interest in astronomy was kindled during his elementary school days when he participated in school plays about the solar system in two different grades (perhaps 4th – 1962-1963 and 5th – 1963-1964). In one of them he portrayed the Sun, and in the other he played the role of the astronomy professor. In the 6th grade (1964-65) he purchased his first science fiction book - HG Well’s War of the Worlds. Wells sparked that interest about the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Combine that influence with an early interest in UFOs (now UAP), the many science fiction series during the 1960’s, the US space program, a March 23, 1969 display of the northern lights, and a 97% partial solar eclipse seen from Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, March 7, 1970, Dave was always looking towards the heavens.
Dave’s introduction to a micro-computer (Digital PDP8) during his junior year in high school (1969 – 1970), launched his eventual career in the IT world. Upon graduation he attended a business school and obtained a certificate in programming and accounting.
Soon after Dave started a part-time computer operator position, he purchased a 6-inch Edmund Scientific reflector (the Super Space Conqueror) in August 1973. At the end of 1974 he finally paid a visit to Seagrave Observatory during one of the society’s public open nights. Dave was so impressed with the amateur astronomers that evening that he applied for membership at the December 1974 monthly meeting, and was voted into membership of Skyscrapers at the January 1975 meeting.
Dave comments, “I soon learned of the rich history of the organization and that of the original owner of the observatory itself, Frank Evans Seagrave (1860 – 1934). At the monthly meetings, then Skyscrapers historian, William “Bill” Gucfa would often provide some tidbits of information about Mr. Seagrave. At some point Bill had little free time to fulfill the position. He knew of my interest, so he encouraged me to assume the role of historian.”
With only a few faded copies of early newspaper articles about Frank Seagrave to guide him, Dave began to research this fascinating “amateur” astronomer. One of his proudest moments as a Skyscrapers member was back in 1986, when his article entitled “Stardust Memories: Frank Evans Seagrave and Halley’s Comet - 1910,” was published in the May 1986 issue of The Rhode Island History Journal. This article told the story of Seagrave’s Halley Comet calculations, predictions, observations, and advice to a concerned public.
And in 2007, Dave and Skyscrapers newsletter editor and website guru Jim Hendrickson published a book entitled 75 Years of Skyscrapers (1932 – 2007).
As Skyscrapers historian, Dave continues to research the rich history of Frank E. Seagrave and Skyscrapers, Inc.
