Engineers reassemble telescope more than a century old at Evergreen Aviation Space Museum
The telescope from the 1800s sat in storage at Linfield University for decades. It was donated to the school and was used as a teaching tool for students. Author: Devon Haskins Updated: 6:08 PM PDT July 7, 2021
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. A retired professor and an optical engineer reassembled a telescope more than a century old at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum on Wednesday.
The telescope sat at Linfield University for decades before arriving at the museum last month.
Four years ago, staff at the Carlton Observatory at Evergreen were made aware of an antique telescope at Linfield University. The telescope, made in 1888, was donated to the school back in the 1890s and was used as a teaching tool for students. At the time, it was considered one of the top optical instruments west of the Mississippi.
Both he and the Stoller group believe the collaboration with Carlton Observatory will do big things for science education in Oregon. This creates something that not only serves Yamhill County but the whole region, Scott said. No pun intended, but all the stars aligned. Their passion is contagious. and their passion is going to get this thing done.
The project is ambitious and will involve about two years of fundraising through community support and grants. People can buy naming rights to stars to help fund the observatory.
It will take another year to construct the building, which was designed by Dangermond Keane Architecture in Portland pro bono. The firm specializes in education and science centers.
Beloved telescopes stolen from Carlton couple
Updated Mar 13, 2021;
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Since he was a kid, Forrest Babcock has always been focused on the sky.
The optical engineer has had a longtime love for astronomy and has poured thousands of hours into building and rebuilding telescopes.
On Wednesday night, however, two of those telescopes were stolen from the rural property
near the Washington-Yamhill County line
where Babcock kept them.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said someone broke the lock on a forest green 1997 Wells Cargo enclosed trailer with a ramp door, nabbing a pair of prized telescopes worth over $16,000.
Deputies are now searching for the thieves. And Babcock and his wife, Janet Zuelke, said the telescopes hold more sentimental and community value than can ever be replaced.